Season 5 Complete

One night, the Mall's P.A. system crackles and buzzes before its speakers spring to life. Starting out tinny and gaining strength, they play back Judy Collins' "Song for Judith".

We all are the river between the walls.

Thank you for everyone that came for PFC. Winters funeral

Private, its been an honor serving with you

He is in my office, when you are ready Ms. Macon.

...where's he?

I have cleaned and secured Private First Class Carl Milton Winter's body for burial. His tags have been retrieved and identify the corpse as his. I will be taking him to be buried some time tomorrow, so those who want to attend, may.

Some silent static and a pause before the woman's voice says

Thank you for your service.

Where's that fat fuck?! Jesus christ i'm like 2/3rds to the West Point, i can see the ends of Racetrack

Here comes the snow.

Trex back at the mall. Interceptor towed, busted. Harley, please repair. Whoever raided the shop, step forward now, I'll make it fast and painless.

Update: Site determined to be one of the many outposts scattered throught tri-county, this one is very excellent condition, maybe even above average in terms of construction.

Moving down the I-495, encountered heavy resistance by the first train stop into town by the highway. Interrogative, multiple xeno contacts were spotted dead on the highway, possibly VIP's work. Retreated into the outpost and staying for the night in there

Julliet Sierra Echo Tango. IP Line 491-321-897-Z21F. Incoming update, encountered weird site off the I-495 towards Valley Station, off by the Ruby gas station. Investigating, over.

Julliet Sierra Echo Tango. IP Line 491-321-897-Z21F. Supplies secured & redeployed into FOB. Be advised, large hostile formation north-east of Airlock C near the militarized suburbs. Break. Secured pair of keys inside the Comms room titled "Tower N" & "Tower S". They're purpose is unclear at this time but they might belong to one of the skyscrapers in the downtown LV.

Julliet Sierra Echo Tango. IP Line 491-321-897-Z21F. Airlock C perimeter sweeped, no new sign of target VIP found. Break. Target is still believed to be heading towards Valley Station via I-495, Possibly Crossroads Mall. Break. The Outpost was deserted with no sign of any hostile contacts. Be advised, located large cache of supplies including but not limited to food, medicine, munition and firearms. Securing efforts are still underway. Over & out.

Excuse me? Leoni here you wanna tell me -What- is pursuing me? I didn't make it through that awful city on my own to be chased by some asshole.

Julliet Sierra Echo Tango. IP Line 491-321-897-Z21F. Target designation: Airlock C, South LV Metro area. Break. TOC this is Cipher. Reached priority target one. No sign of the VIP. Interrogative. Based off the documents on site it appear subject has moved towards Louisville I-495 towards Valley Station. Break. Target's pursuing someone named "Daniel Leoni". Break. Please advise. Out.

Outpost to Mall. Expedition successful to Mercer Lane. Kid and Harley picked up a bunch of occult documents, some occult book among them. We've powered up a generator here and had a drink for Carl. Toasted the Interceptor, but rescued the RV and a got a new well working truck. Hummers still in tact. At this time everyone at the outpost is advised to egress back into the Mall in groups. Take a vehicle if you want, roads should be safe, and we have enough wheels for everyone.

Highway outpost, Nolan here. PFC Winters is decased, I repeat, PFC Winters is deceased. Our team will be returning with him to the FOB before the blizzard descends. Over and out.

Goddamnit- this is Lieutenant Clarke, from the FOB; Does anyone know Private Winters' status? Over.

Julliet Sierr-....-Cho Tango. IP Li-....-97-Z21F. Target des-....-ilock C, South LV Met-...-rea Break. ...-tor Hudson, interroga-...-ow copy? Over.

FUCK FUCK FUUUCK....THEY'RE COMING IN HOO- Sounds of muffled fire and furniture being overturned

Shit, two centaurs outside the garage bay, over

R-roger that

Dragon down. Scouting ahead again, over.

You want to try pin him from two sides?

wheezes They're dead...they're all dead inside now from what i can tell...eh...Update 2...yeah

I'm at the south end of the bridge. Clear up to here, but there's a dragon sitting on the south outpost.

Update: Runners moved onto my barricade but took them all down with Crowbar

Only seeing lamp head and mutant arm in the garage bay, they took down most of the doors

Gonna conserve energy on this thing, they broke down one of the garage doors and can still hear few down there

Watch out for checkpoint after the bridge, there was a lot of activity there last time

O-okay...okay

Thats great, but, be careful

I'm gearing up to cut a path to you, Winters. If nobody else is available, we'll make do. Sit tight.

Okay gonna make this one quick, Mall, outpost, whoever else that can hear me. Still alive, still hiding in the office upstairs. Took down a centaur barreling up the stairs but more came after and walk down in there

Gotta go before they come closer and hear me, let me know ahead whenever you're coming. Over & out.

...god i hope this thing actually works and im not talking to myself

Ah fuck...Breach BREACH BREACH...Gotta hide shit...wish me luck

I can just hear them pilling up outside the Autoshop...God i miss being dead

Stupid walkie talkie...

Hey, outpost

You're all still holding out there? Over.

...Don't touch that dial now 75 MHz. We're just getting started...!

My fellow investigators, your guru has nourished thousands of minds, saved hundreds of souls, and brought dozens to the next next level. However, as much as your guru has appreciated, and benefited, from being locked outside of his house for weeks at a time, I need to be frank. I have no idea how to grow crops, but I DO know that no one has tended the fields in the mall for almost two weeks. Plants are dying. Could someone who knows something about dirt take care of that sort of stuff? Haha. Namaste.

One thing i forgot to mention.

Somebody crashed a blue Caprice outside into one of the humvees and left the engine running, additionally all of the main exists were left wide open

What the hell?

Solid copy Grace

I'll drag him over to the doc's office. Hang in the Winters, help is coming

Winters, standby. We got enough people and firepower to clear the path to you. Won't be long before we got a squad awake to make a move. And Sergeant, no idea who the Rosewood officer would be without any ID. Best get 'em cleaned, covered, and set up for public identification in case anybody knows 'em. Nolan, over.

Negative on the ID but the victim is wearing Rosewood SO uniform

Any ideas?

Uhh, guys

I just found a body under one of the stairs, standby for ID

Update: Okay well, Checkpoint before the bridge is swarmed and i barely have ammo as it is, guess i'm gonna have to wait it out at the Autoshop.

Wish me luck. PFC Winters over & out

Brrr...God i hope this radio still works...where the fuck am I? I thought i was with...

West Point Train Cart? Shit guess i'm gonna have to try to walk back to the outpost, hopefully they're still in there

Post P.S. No, i had enough Sin points i just wanted more and also lost a bet

POST Post P.S. Lucifer GOATS at Shadow The Hedgehog: Video Game™️

Its eternity over there...I've seen the other side...

P.S. I met Lucifer, chill as fuck guy, he's more like Hades than how he's depicted in the bible but you need to have enough Sin points in there else you get kicked out

VIDEOGAMES ARE GETTING SO REALISTIC THESE DAYS, HA HA.

THANK GOD I MADE A SAVEPOINT BEFORE CARL BURNT TO DEATH.

Wait...this voice sounds familiar

Is your name Wesley Tanner by any chance?

I have glorious news. I have your pleas of desperation for guidance that only I can provide, and I am heeding your full-throated, visceral calls: I am returning to the airwaves this week. Here is our schedule for the week, however tomorrow will be of particular import, as I'm sure many of your lives have fallen into levels of disarray you haven't experienced since beginning the program, so I will be in absolutely "top gear" for you all, as I request from all of you. I am fully expecting that the bottom has completely fallen out for most of you, so tomorrow's going to be all about "Damage Control." Why has half of the mall's population upped to go West? Why has other elements of the mall been incapable of joining them? Will any of them come back, and what in the hell are they coming back with? We'll discuss how we can control the damage around here and re-focus our investigations.

Pickup the radio Trex, pick up

That's a 10-4, i'll try to reach the site either on foot or in the vehicle

Trex to Mall: Kid, Nails, and I cleared a path from Outpost to River, so now we have access to fresh fish. Fishing supplies in the crate by sniper nest. Winters: Nails and I went up the road, cleared the dragon, spiky, two other spikeys, three crawlers, a couple of centaurs, a few arm mutants, and the road now looks clear. We towed the wrecks off the road, and towed the RV to Outpost. It actually starts and operational. Path to us should now be clear. See you here soon. Godspeed.

You too Mrs. Nolan, you too...

Over.

You're not missing anything out here unless you like camping out in wintertime and the sounds of dino-sized bugs chirping in the night. With a bit of luck, this won't take forever. Stay safe out there. Nolan out.

I must say, I hate how quiet the mall is right now with a lot of us out there

Maybe, but i didn't get swarmed or anything

It went pretty good until past the RV, half way to first checkpoint when Dragon with Spiky came out of the woods in front of me, didn't see me and i know better than to try solo dragon

Nolan's right, Private. What you did was foolhardy and foolish at best.

Failed but still alive is good, better to play it safe. Two people should be the minimum squad size for any team traveling the roads, preferably more.

Well that failed but, atleast i'm back safe

Winters to Mall, gonna try reaching Harley, wish me luck. Over and out.

PFC. Winters to Trex that is a solid copy, i'll attempt to reach you to inspect the site if anyone else is willing to aswell

Trex to Mall. Forward Outpost getting a little TLC in the comfort and quality of life department. Plenty of wood to cut in the area, and I made headway on improvements. Need some feedback on layout and awaiting more supplies. Camping out til y'all arrive. Trex out.

Good evening my fellow investigators. I sadly report that tonight, Wesley CONTINUES to be ill. I am in consult with a supposed “expert” to determine the best course of action that will allow me to return to my work with you all, work that I sorely miss. This “expert” is only mildly diluted, and hopefully will aid more than the carnage he and his class inevitably inflict on all of us. Namaste, my children. I miss you dearly, but I will not, nor will I ever, apologize to you for anything that I do.

Thank you all for finding the bag and bringing it back here, this is awesome

Found decently fresh oysters!

The mail has been delivered to those still alive in the Mall, others of unrecognized names are left in the Northern food court for people to claim alongside the belonging delivered alongside them.

The Mall's PA system plays back another song. Happy whistling, an old tune, sung with passion.

Magic moments

When two hearts are caring

Magic moments

Memories we've been sharing

I'll never forget the moment

We kissed the night of the hayride

The way that we hugged to try to keep warm

While taking a sleigh ride

Magic moments

Memories we've been sharing

Magic moments

When two hearts are caring

Time can't erase the memory of

These magic moments filled with love

The telephone call

That tied up the line for hours and hours

The Saturday dance I got up the nerve

To send you some flowers

Magic moments

Memories we've been sharing

Magic moments

When two hearts are caring

Time can't erase the memory of

These magic moments filled with love

The way that we cheered

Whenever our team was scoring a touch down

The time that the floor fell out of my car

When I put the clutch down

The penny arcade, the games that we played

The fun and the prizes

The Halloween hop when everyone came

In funny disguises

Magic moments

Filled with love

The PA speakers fall silent again after the song ends on its happy whistling notes.

Just letting everyone know, if you have Ms. Sally duffle drop it off her in her room per her request

Winters signing off

INVESTIGAAAAAATORS! I am excited beyond all excitement to bring you tonight's Investigation. It's a core Investigation, and something we've been ignoring for some time. The topic for tonight is re-addressing the basics of The Program...

Firstly, we will be joined by a very, very special guest. Now I haven't actually sent out the invite, but they'll know: BEE, an intrepid investigator that has assisted the mall many a time, shall assist us in investigating the key topic of tonight:

"Relaxation is Killing You"

New Investigators certainly need to be introduced to this foundational concept,, and my more "seasoned" Investigators? Lord knows we can use your experience, insight, and leadership as we ever hone our minds and hearts through the tenets of The Program. Namaste everyone, I'll see you very soon.

Good evening, my fellow investigators! I have terrific news, we are BACK soon! And we will be INVESTIGATING a brand new theme, possibly the SPOOKIEST topic we've tackled to date...

"The Other"

Be it a friend, lover, an enemy, monster, or an alien, There is no scarier thing in the world than the fundamental separation between us and the world around us. Some of these things want to kill us, fewer share our basic interests, but mostly and perhaps the most terrifying, The Other doesn't give a shit about us at all, ha ha ha. Namaste, everyone. I will see you all soon!

We have a new arrival in the mall: Daniel Leoni. He survived on his own in Louisville for all these months. He brought in a truckload of supplies which he generously shared with the community, so be sure to give him a warm welcome and show him around. Just go easy on him, he's still got a fever to fight off. Nolan, over and out.

Oh I see, thanks for explaining Grace

Found him on the road to the race track. There's another body out there, named Nagata by their ID. Could only carry one, so I brought back the first I found.

Oh wow

Who's that? And where'd you even find him?

The body of Preston Barlow is in the doctor's office for anybody to pay their respects. If someone could kindly report in if they knew him, and how we should put him to final rest, please do so in the next 24 hours.

Thanks for getting my ass Trex, hope you like the beer

Cracks & Buzzing in the background Trying LDRF Mode...Okay...This is PFC. Winters, Mall do you copy? I'm at the lodge, alone and uh...i kind of need bit of direction on getting back because i'm sure as hell gonna be lost in that blizzard. Over.

bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt

HELLO WESLEY. THANK YOU FOR CELEBRATING ME. YOUR SHOW GIVES ME THE STRENGTH TO CARRY ON EVEN WHEN THINGS SEEM DARK. I CAN FEEL MYSELF DEVELOPING AS I LET YOUR QUESTIONS BEFALL MY BRAIN.

MY SEX LIFE IS OKAY. I HAVE VARIOUS TOOLS AT MY DISPOSAL THAT MAKE FOR AN ENJOYABLE TIME EVEN WHILE I AM STUCK HERE ALL BY MYSELF.

Tonight investigations shall be afoot once again, but rather than frumping about in the dark and discussing the failures and successes of our bereaving, our benefiting, our money making, we're going to do something a little different... A celebration of YOU. That's right. Tonight is all about you. We have been hard at work "in the mines" so to speak, but sometimes it's important to reflect on the staggering progress each of us has made through the majesty of The Program, so tonight our theme for Investigation is... "The Program Works"

Call in tonight and tell me all about how Investigations and investigating has utterly transformed your life. What sort of treasures have befallen you since your initiation to our work together? How much money have you made? How much weight have you lost? How's your career, your sex life, etc. going since beginning your work in our community? Namaste everyone. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Namaste, my Investigators. I unfortunately must lay low and rest this evening, but rest assured we will be having a proper tomorrow evening in place of tonight's. In the meantime, just act as normal as possible. Lock it down, hold it together. As difficult as it is to go without Investigations for an evening, no one will understand if you freak out and melt down, not the police, not your social workers, not your Parole Officer. Don't fuck up your life tonight, and we'll regroup tomorrow. Namaste.

Get out of my office and stop looking at my scripts.

Rotor whirrling

Hello & Good Evening once again Crossroads Mall.

This Sgt. Franklin Macon speaking once again. How are you holding up Crossroads? Are you okay?

Why am i asking you may ask? I'll be frank with you citizens, i took some time recently to review the malls history, its past residents. Some known and others not and you know what i found? That all of them at one point or the other, had suffered from sort of outburst, a mental breakdown. I have come to the conclusion that your mental health is one the top unrecognised and untreated issues we're all facing in our situation.

Some may go to the alcohol to forget the reality, while others may overwork just to not think about it and then there are those who lash out

Keeping those feelings inside is not healthy and doesnt lead to anything good, especially now where so mamy have fallen because they finally snapped. Whilst neither me nor Dr. Tully are trained psychologists/psychiatrists im in firm belief both of ours office are always open for heart to heart conversation.

And once again, we're still waiting your questions and additionally, we have launched a recruitment drive, check out the poster outside our office or ask one of the Marshalls for further details.

That's all for now folks, goodnight and lights out Crossroads. Macon over & out.

My heartfelt condolences. I am so very sorry for your loss.

Gavin Blairse, George Sewell, and Erik Gadolin have all fallen in combat and their bodies have been located, returned to the mall by a search team, and cleaned. They can be visited in my office for the next twenty-four hours, after which we will be getting a team together for a formal burial. Thank you.

To all Crossroads Mall residents: If you find across your way a damaged body armor of any kind, feel free to drop it on or near the desk in our office. PFC. Winters will try his best to fix and salvage ones he can

Sounds of gunfire and moans of multiple infected coming through radio

Cracks through the radio Hello...This thing working again? Shit

Only bad news for the night is, George is missing in the neighborhood north. If anybody else is awake and ready for a search party mission, speak now, please. Over.

I look forward to our meeting.

baby SHARK doo doo doo doo doo doo baby SHARK doo doo doo doo doo doo baby SHARK doo doo doo doo doo doo BABY SHARK! mommy SHARK doo doo doo doo doo doo mommy SHARK doo doo doo doo doo doo mommy SHARK doo doo doo doo doo doo MOMMY SHARK! daddy SHARK doo doo doo doo doo doo daddy SHARK doo doo doo doo doo doo daddy SHARK doo doo doo doo doo doo DADDY SHARK! grandma SHARK doo doo doo doo doo doo grandma SHARK doo doo doo doo doo doo grandma SHARK doo doo doo doo doo doo GRANDMA SHARK! grandpa SHARK doo doo doo doo doo doo grandpa SHARK doo doo doo doo doo doo grandpa SHARK doo doo doo doo doo doo GRANDPA SHARK! LET'S GO HUNT! LET'S GO HUNT! LET'S GO HUNT! LET'S GO HUNT! IT'S THE END! IT'S THE END! IT'S THE END!

Hello and welcome again Crossroad's Mall residents.

This is Sergeant Frankie again, with a short announcement. If you look out the window you may see snow falling down, thats right, winter has officially began so you should put on some warm clothes when you're going outside next time.

I would also like to remind that ballot box for Q/A is open 24/7 and i'll be happy to answer your questions during next airing.

Stay safe out there, Macon over & out.

The Mall's PA system plays back another song.

♫ Only you can make all this world seem right ♫

♫ Only you can make the darkness bright ♫

♫ Only you and you alone can thrill me like you do ♫

♫ And fill my heart with love for only you ♫

♫ Oh, only you can do make all this change in me ♫

♫ For it's true, you are my destiny ♫

♫ When you hold my hand I understand the magic that you do ♫

♫ You're my dream come true, my one and only you ♫

♫ Oh oh, only you can do make this change in me ♫

♫ For it's true, you are my dest—

The music cuts out abruptly.

Hi thank you for reaching US Army Crossroads Mall Community Outreach Line

Its mrs Macon, mrs. Diana, as much as i would have loved to taste your cooking as i heard its quiet good i already ate a bowl of soup from the fridge, i believe it was yours making aswell, quiet good i must say.

Regardless maybe next time Diana but you stay stay safe out there

Hello, Mister Macon! The big question of the day is: Are you hungry? If you are, we will fix it with a little splash of vegetable oil, a few thistles to taste, and a good stock of freshly caught bird, supercabbage from the alien garden, supercarrot, wild potato, a few local mushrooms, and, would you believe it, boiled dandelions! Yes! You in fact can use them for cooking. Now I would not recommend just throwing a bunch of dandelions into a soup willy nilly, but if you activate your senses and tune in that nose, you can really make magic happen in your pallet! Til later! Diana!

Hello and good morning Crossroads Mall residents.

I may not know you and you may not know me. My name is Sergeant Franklin Macon and i'm the acting commanding officer of the US Army squad located inside your mall.

I understand that you are all frustrated and confused about the current situation, something I experienced from you and ourself, which i why i elected myself to from now on hold transmissions like these from on, hear and answers your questions. PFC. Winters had set up for me a ballot box into which you can drop the notes with your questions which had been placed inside waiting room of our office but we also take radio message, emails and phone messages under: 01-838-US-ARMY-14. We'll be more than happy to answer them during next airing.

Till the next time, Sgt. Macon signing off

I'd love it if you took that live. There's only so much greatness that the airwaves can handle at once.

Namaste, Bee! Thank you so much for calling in, hah-HAH! Yes, as a matter of fact, the United States Armed Forces ARE in the Mall! We've had all sorts of Federal Agents in here! FBI, CIA, NSA, DOD, CDC, all of these deceitful jackals have been infiltrating the mall and subsequently dying ever since the Mist descended! And they are a MAJOR Archetype! Haha!

With the storm having come, radio signals are assuredly weak. This is why I heartily recommend callers call in through the mall payphones or directly at the P.A terminals in Jim's office, the PA room, or better yet- come and participate LIVE in my, Wesley Fhtagneer's, personal studio! I look forward to all your calls. Namaste.

HELLO WESLEY. PERSONALLY I HAVE NOTICED A DISTINCT LACK OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ARMY PERSONNEL DURING MY ROOF VISITS. DO YOU NOT HAVE THOSE IN THE MALL? HAHA.

MAYBE I WILL GIVE UP MY DRONE PILOT GIG AND HAVE BEETLE BECOME THE MALL SHERIFF.

Investigators! Fellow Explorers of the mental, spiritual, emotional, and occasional physical worlds! Tonight at our normal time, we will be communing to investigate a particular topic, one which deserves our spiritual and CREATIVE ((!!!)) energy. Tonight we’ll devoting our energies to come up with a batch of things this Mall desperately needs. It needs to identify, to categorize, to label:

“New Archetypes”

What are they? Why should we give a shit? What are some new ones that make more sense in now-times? These low, dark, hard times?

This and much more. I’m very excited to be with you all, namaste.

Mall's PA system crackles Final call to the next of kin and close friends of Regina Freeman. Please visit the head office to request a formal burial or a cremation, please. If there is nobody to claim her body, she will be cremated in 24 hours from now. Grace, over and out.

meow

squeak

Alarm clock set for midnight, radio set to full volume in the center of the mall. If something is still lurking, it should show up by the overgrown fountain. Be wary, friends.

NAMASTE, WESLEY. I CANNOT WAIT. I BELIEVE THAT DUBSTEP IS MISUNDERSTOOD AND THAT MANKIND COULD BENEFIT FROM A LITTLE WUB WUB WUB EVERY NOW AND THEN. YOU SHOULD MEET ME ON THE ROOF SOME TIME BECAUSE I THINK WE COULD BE GREAT FRIENDS.

Namaste, BEE! I will be creating a secondary show known as 'Gyrations' with Wesley Fhtagneer. That'll be a show where callers can share their favored media with the rest of our listeners and viewers throughout the mall! And maybe even beyond, if I can get a fucking signal! Haha! Namaste.

Namaste, my fellow investigators. I have completed a preliminary investigation, myself. And I have interviewed several witnesses. Grace Nolan, an avid listener since the 'FOCUS' episode we did a little while back, knee-capped Regina to her grave. This is what happens when you throw around wild speculation, false accusations, counter-accusations, denials, and wield pipes at people with guns. Why do people continue to threaten people, who carry guns? Are you trying to speedrun your way to that next-next level? It doesn't work that way, people.

Sgt. Frankie Macon has slithered out of the back offices to provide us with some information: The Army is here as part of 'Operation Dawnbreak' which is 'classified.' - I bet it has to do with ending the mist and bringing back the sun by helping out the denizens of the Mall get to West-Point, right? Wow. Classified indeed. All the information for your objective is in the fucking title. The Army is here to provide 'protection' and assist against 'frontier justice.' These are just buzzwords to remind you that they are here to ply their soft leather boots straight to your neck, listeners. Be very wary.

But, she also said some things which, while propaganda, are also totally true: "Humanity has went through worse. Fall of Rome, The Bubonic Plague, Ice Age, both World Wars, a Cold War, yet we persisted. Some god damned Mist isn't gonna change that, as long as we work together. We are strong in numbers, in intellect and compassion. A House Divided Cannot Stand."

Now I personally know for a fact that, other than my brave listeners, people in large-crowds and herds are actually idiots and really really easy to manipulate. And I don't think about the Fall of Rome at all, except maybe once a week for 5 seconds to remember how absolutely fucking dumb the Romans were.

The Trial for Grace Nolan has not yet been set but I'm sure she'll be acquitted and this entire false-fed-sham of a justice system can go back to being frozen on ice like a Cocaine Cowboy in a Miami-Dade Ice Cream truck in 1987. Namaste, everyone. I am not sorry, and I never will be.

Thank God.

Regina Freeman is dead. Her body is clean and can be visited in the head office. Grace, over and out.

screams echoing from hell

Start Buzzer

"Well, everything packaged and sent out to Highroad Actual, took longer than expected but, its done" "Excellent Sergeant, now come on, get to the convoy with the rest" "Yes ma'am, just one more thing. If anyone's out there is still alive, good luck. LCOMM signing off for the last time, over to you Highroad."

End Buzzer

Lays there dead next to a broken down RV. He sure was no pussy. Day 1, he took the Mist to the next next level.

HELLO WESLEY. I RESONATE WITH THAT STATEMENT A LOT. I TURNED MY ANXIETY INTO EXPLOSIONS. IT WAS VERY FUN. DO YOU DO SONG REQUESTS ON YOUR SHOW? I WANT TO REQUEST THE SONG NUKE 'EM BY DATSIK. I PLAYED IT ON LOOP FOR THE FIRST FEW HOURS OF THE MIST. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO GREET THE MALL DWELLERS. HELLO.

My fellow Investigators! Tonight we will commune once again! It has been too long, certainly some of you haven't made it this far: Either by the fate of the universe or the enterprise of their own will, ha ha! Either way, those of us that remain in our physical realm, join me tonight between midnight and 5AM as we investigate...

"Anxiety as Energy: How to Harness This Gift and Stop Being a Pussy."

Now, I know. I'm not going to sugarcoat it, I put you guys to work. I push you. I ask you to look at the next-next level. Many of you get it. Some of you do not. And that's fine, it's why I am here: To make sure that even your little brain will be able to become a big one. I took our community here to task, on how to SPREAD our light in the future of this bleak, godless world. Tonight, Wesley is going to require your help with a aspect of The Mind: Anxiety. Stop. Being. A. Pussy.

Looking forward to your calls and your visions and your comments, tonight! Namaste.

That's the Wheelmen, George. They're real. Take it easy, but not too easy. Grace, over and out.

Fuck it, fuck it all, i'm barricading in this room...god please let this be really only just chatter from outside of the mall

This is not fucking funny fellas, who's creeping around the mall and talking on the radio like that?!

Namaste, my fellow investigators. I have to be frank with you. The policies of denial, and disconnection from reality, is rising to a dangerous level. This ailment is getting way worse. This Mall is starting to entrench itself in this quasi-imaginary reality. It's a bit of Hasbara, really. The amount of disinformation in this mall is reaching critical levels. In fact, propaganda is becoming a fundamental institution to our survival. Tonight's episode will be on dispelling this. Because tonight's topic of investigation is "FOCUS."

What is it to focus? How long can people focus? Who focuses on what? As we investigate this, I feel like we will be able to rally the most dangerous and Alpha of us to commit dark deeds to secure our survival. Namaste, everyone. See you tonight.

Here at Crossroad Mall we are proud to open a new Survivor Special Branch of Sweet Eats Fine Dining!

I am Diana Barrett, the 2023 Iron Chef invitee and 5-Star rated ANCA certified Head Chef de Cuisine, and today I present you a daily menu that will fill your hungry tummies and titillate your pallet, returning that love and excitement of life that we so badly need in the Mist, while also providing the nutritional value and caloric intake to maximize healing of your wounds, resistance to disease, and removal of fatigue, soothing aches and pains of daily Mist life!

Special Menu: 7 AM - Breakfast (Combo Fry with locally foraged or farmed ingredients) 1 PM - Lunch (Alien Supercabbage Soup - we all ride the ride together!) 7 PM - Dinner (4-Star Extravaganza Stew)

And if we get salt, there will be fresh bread! Diana out!

Good evening my dear Explorers! I have to level with you. Since exiting my "meditation" for lack of a better term, I've been plagued with a recurring nightmare, day and night, whether I find myself asleep or risen and conscious. Especially after the events of tonight, I will go into more detail, but for now I will simply tell you that tonight we'll be re-visiting a theme that has sat as the central most theme to my waking visage...

"Hot Dog"

My mind is heavy with the burden of this image, and tonight we will delve deep, as deep as possible, into "Hot Dog" and it's psychic ramifications for us as a community.

Namaste, everyone. I am not sorry, and I never will be.

🎵 Babble babble bzzt bzzt 🎵

"Echo 2-1 Actual to LCOMM, We're on scene, Preparing for further tasks"

Haha! Namaste!

Threats neutralized, Magpie. Thanks for the heads up. Dex over and out.

"LCOMM to Echo 2-1 SitRep"

"This Echo 2-1 Actual, ETA to Target Victor Sierra Mike 5 mikes"

"Solid Copy 2-1 Actual"

Guys, there is an unbarricaded door in the west side of the garage by the truck. I found it just now, and tried to barricade it, but the sound of barricading attracted two big spider things. I tried to take them down, but could not. One is somewhere on the first floor. Be careful of the garage. And we have a door there left wide open. I'm hiding and bandaging up. Brianna.

Namaste, everyone. I want to thank everyone for a fantastic late show this morning. We had a couple of callers, a couple of affirmations for ladies and for gentlemen- no affirmations for the Theys, though. I am sure that will come very soon. Came pretty often before the Mist. God damn, haha, I need an IT intern or something.

Tonight we will be having a new Investigation and I strenuously suggest you call in. You can do so by any Mall telephone, by radio frequency 75.0, or feel free to stop by the set for an in-person, on-camera discussion! Short Changing Our Heroes: Investigating why people only become Heroes when they die, or they make a certain amount of money and enter a gated community (which is why you can never meet your heroes, they have too much private security.)

I am always inspired by each and every caller. Your mental health is important to me. Most States in this region that sent me cease and desist letters concerning my psychiatric practice are currently covered in a blanket of evil, so just consider that before you want to dismiss my credentials. Haha! I am not sorry and I never will be. Namaste.

Throughout the mall, the crystalline trees clicked, jittered, rustled, and expanded. Slowly, they were growing, ever so slowly. Symmetrical branches uncoiled as mathematically perfect spirals. Sharp edges shimmered with iridescence in the light, and dagger-like shards fanned out to point in every direction. Shaved from the friction, motes of glittering dust spread from the branches through the air, dancing in dispersing clouds. Nearby, these blooms smelled like apple pie.

After someone tampered with the climate controls in the Mall, shifting them first to maximum heat and then dropping it to a cool far below its original setting, the blooms first accelerated, then slowed down again.

Strange apples have grown and fallen from the blooming crystalline trees. They look delicious. Strange, but delicious.

A small creature has eaten half of one such fruit in the food court.

Start Buzzer

"This is CERA EDRK Service System. Package Recovered. Please transmit service feedback within twenty-four hours.

End Buzzer

Start Buzzer

"This is CERA EDRK Service System. Order for DZ: One Whiskey Papa Niner. Victor Sierra Mike. Package on scene. This automated message will play on loop until the recovery of the package

End Buzzer

Namasate, everyone. My name is Wesley Fhtagneer. Welcome to Midnight In the Hollar: Investigations with Weston Tanner. I am your host, Wesley Fhtagneer. Tonight's topic is something I have been trying to define ever since I got in the business of it. I've spread it all over the place, like a sweet sticky eruption of my voluminous seed. I've also had it impregnated into me as the Oracle of Delphi that I am. Forever sullied yet continuing to provide you, dear caller, with tonight's topic. I shan't dance around it any longer callers, because tonight we are going to talk about INFORMATION.

Fake breasts- are they useful? Were they ever? Do we abuse this at all, and are we playing God? Murder, same thing- are we really playing God here? What information can be gleaned from perpetually re-enacting Cain's totally hardcore sacrifice? Do we use information correctly? What even is information? Is knowing something is disinformation, information? And is someone in this mall pregnant? All of this and more, on tonight's program. Namaste everyone. I look forward to your calls.

Feel free to call in through any mall payphone at 1-237-000-0001, or through your radio! Though with the upcoming storm, our episodes will be switching to LIVE BROADCAST and LIVE Question and Answer sessions! How cool is that? Namaste.

Start Buzzer

"SatComm OK Signal OK Auth Code OK"

"Sierra Foxtrot Site: Op." "Whiskey Tango Charlie Station B-D: InOp." "Site Romeo: Op." "Charlie Mike Charlie: Op." "Papa Alpha Foxtrot Bravo: Op." "India Mike: No Contact" "Foxtrot AP Hotel: Op." "RAAPAB: Lost Contact" "Lima Alpha Foxtrot Bravo: Semi Op."

"COOP in effect"

End Buzzer

Wind whistles through a broken window in the skylight above the now overgrown fountain.

Word has it, "TnT" shot out the window in an attempt to shoot a cat-sized winged creature that was fluttering around up there. The tiny beast disappeared into the vents.

One rainy afternoon, the PA speakers emitted strange whispers, only perceptible for the attentive. Soon after, the entire building quaked. Colossal footsteps, heralds of something gargantuan approaching outside. The whole building shook until the haunting earthquakes ended. When the dust settled, a precarious hole gaped wide open in the southeast corner of the Mall. Rain cascaded inside, soaking department store carpets, and the downpour drenched the shattered debris left over from a massive impact. Luckily, the walls on ground level still stood. But for how long?

Something huge had collided with the wall.

Start Buzzer

"This is Colonel Monterro. Due to consistent issues with the telecommunications in the following counties: Jefferson, Bullitt, Hardin and Meade. I will once again repeat the previous statement regarding the passing of your loved ones given to WBLN.

Do not keep them inside, do not bury them. You are advised to secure the bodies by wrapping them up in 2 layers of trash bags or any suitable replacement material and leave them outside near the trash bins. The Military will attempt to pick them up and properly dispose of them at the nearest possible time"

End Buzzer

Speakers everywhere start playing a jazzy old song that sounds like it hails from the 1950s. Tinny in quality, the instrumental is soon accompanied by a man singing.

Midniiiight, with the stars and youuuu,

Midniiiiight, and a rendezvous,

Your eyes held a message tender,

Saying, "I surrender all my love to youuuuu"

Midniiiiight, brought us sweet romance,

I know all my whole life through,

I'll be remembering you, whatever else I dooooo,

Midniiiight, with the stars and you...

The song mellows out without any additional vocals and ends on a playful note. Then the music stops playing. The speakers remain silent.

Nobody was operating the PA system.

LCOMM to Southbound Units.

Orders for DZ: Bravo Uniform Lima Lima India Tango Tango, India-65 x Uniform Sierra 31W

Search & Destroy, dug in upon reaching Shepherdsville outskirts and await arrival of elements 1-82 Cavalry Stryker units. Delay tactics and if heavy resistance is encountered.

BOLO for HHC's

Over & out.

Namaste, and welcome! I want to take the opportunity to say hello to what appears to be TWO new callers. A HUGE welcome to Dalton and Doctor Tull-lah-something. Now, I know they're not entirely new, but they have not really been callers either. Their souls had been left adrift, to wander the billions of hidden stars, and they were obviously incapable of following their own investigations to the ultimate truth, so they have finally come in from the cold to obtain the ultimate investigation techniques from your Guru.

In addition, Jack 'V2' has gone to make a series of announcements through the P.A! And he was kind enough not to do it during our regularly scheduled time together, investigators. So a very large series of felicitations and congratulations to Jack V2 for learning how to read and write a huge announcement. I barely read and I utilize a talk-to-text device to make these announcements because writing is for Elites and Experts, and we hate those, don't we, investigators?

Tonight I will be conducting a Mental Census. With two census already complete, I think it's time we finally took stock of the spiritual and mental energy we have accumulated together and figure out how to best expend that energy in a great massive orgasmic release of energy. Namaste, everyone. I will see you all soon.

Namaste, fellow investigators!

Tonight on Investigations we are going to have an experience truly indelible. With so much going on out there in the world, and with so little information at our fingertips, we have only rumour and speculation left to fall back on. Not a single caller in the last month is a scientist which is good because I loathe 'experts' and you should too. So tonight we are going to discuss what rumour and speculation is the SYMPTOM of. IDLENESS.

As your communal Guru, I feel strongly that we are engaged in the equivalent of a Power-Slap match with God. And I'm not sure if you know this, but God's hand is likely at LEAST the size of our solar system. Maybe even two. So how does one avoid this concussion? You RELAX. We can relax with IDLENESS. Let us discuss, together, how idleness has benefited you in the last month. And how Idleness is perhaps the worst torture of all, which is good! Namaste, everyone.

Namaste, everyone! Tonight, a new episode of Investigations:

Influencers: A Holocaust of Smiles

The powers that be are using the absolute best of us, the most alpha of our breed of apes, to humiliate and destroy us. They twist and torture our influencers and Guantanamo-style ram their depraved smiles down our throats. Their methods so severe and effective, we essentially carry a CIA blacksite in our pockets everywhere we go. Tonight I need to hear your calls of how this has effected you, the mangled sights you've seen recently, and better yet, what can we do about it? How should we be reacting or calling on our Influencers to respond? Much to talk about tonight! I will see you all for the next episode of Investigations at our usual time: Midnight to three AM. Namaste, everyone. I am not sorry and I never will be.

We bring you this update on the situation with the fog. Department of Defense continued their attempts to shift focus onto Russian biological weapons being the cause of the strange mist, but the left wing democratic opposition, those of us who remain alive and questioning, are always trying to reach the senators to find out more about the truth. General Edward Bennett was pressed to allude to, if not admit, a possibility of a failed military experiment at the secret research facility in Area 51. The advisory council were forced to admit that no, so called "plague" could be responsible in any feasible manner for the reported number of dangerous and biologically foreign to our Earth ecosystem things roaming out there, and they are pending further commentary.

"Fears of many are being confirmed one incident after another. There are things in the fog, and the fog appears to be spreading over the Louisville area. State officials are trying to reach the senators. Congress came back with a conspiracy of a biological weapon possibly deployed by Russia under V. Putin's initiative. It is at this point only speculation. For all of us at home, stay inside, and do not go out into the fog. There are dangerous things in it."

"This is an emergency broadcast: Warning, do not go into the fog. Stay in clear areas, avoid the mist, do not venture alone, stay in groups and travel quietly. Keep hydrated and pack light. Do not, we repeat, do not go near the fog. Authorities are investigating the source of the anomaly, stay indoors and tune in for further updates."