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[SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to Crooked Stories Theatre, where each week we bring you strange and quirky tales, stories with a small twist and odd setting, a unique character.
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[SPEAKER_00]: It could be a drama, a light horror, a sitcom, really any kind of story, as long as it's just a bit crooked.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Hello, I'm Paul Canower with Crooked Stories Theatre.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Today, we bring you a standalone project, quiet, narrated short story, but of a mystery, just a touch of sci-fi.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Narration by Matt Candelario, starring Ralph Duke as Edward, Jared Griffiths as Amis, Phoebe Ryvaker as the security bot, and Larry Womack as Canadian security bot.
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[SPEAKER_00]: Introducing our newest Crooked Story.
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[SPEAKER_00]: papers.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward stared at the paperclip, proud of his choice.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Disappointed only that nobody else would understand its significance.
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[SPEAKER_02]: It was a necessary, of course.
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[SPEAKER_02]: It all was, really.
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[SPEAKER_02]: But Edward liked the symbolism.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The paperclip was a workhorse.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Not flashing.
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[SPEAKER_02]: It always got the job done.
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[SPEAKER_02]: What he liked most.
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[SPEAKER_02]: A paperclip turned chaos into tidy, contained packages.
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[SPEAKER_02]: It created order, where there was none, and it kept it there.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Only a staple would have been better.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Were it right for this job?
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward leaned back in his chair, he wanted to soak in his surroundings, his beloved den.
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[SPEAKER_02]: There was no chance anything could go wrong.
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[SPEAKER_02]: How could it?
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[SPEAKER_02]: Still, if somehow this was the last time he would be here, he wanted to remember.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The den was, as warm as he was, cold.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Wood accents mixed with fabrics and browns and reds, all for the same purpose.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Humanize him, build trust, help him close the deal.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward was all about the deal.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He was good at it, and he had the photos to prove it.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Walls were lined with them.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward with one dignitary or another.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The king of this, the president of that, amirs, prime ministers, leaders supreme, and otherwise.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Representing 40 years of handshakes and fake smiles.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Today though wasn't about deal making for Edward.
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[SPEAKER_02]: At least not the sword he was trained to make, today was personal.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Things would be set right, made orderly.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He wasn't nervous, he was never nervous.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He did feel different though.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Of all the deals he had closed, he had never closed one in this manner.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward rubbed his hands on the arm of the chair.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He liked to feel the Italian leather.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Somehow it gave him comfort and strength.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He didn't care how.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He just knew that the closer he got to retirement, the more he needed the boost.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Hmm, enough of that.
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[SPEAKER_02]: With a quick glance at the clock, Edward slipped on a pair of glasses.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Show traffic between here and Anthony landing.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The glasses flickered with the information.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward gathered the papers in front of him, pushing them into a neat pile.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Piper wasn't his idea, but he respected it.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The rarity of it, the luxury of it.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The official nature of the moment, Piper was the right choice.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He didn't have to like what the word said to appreciate the method of delivery.
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[SPEAKER_02]: With a deep breath he reached into the top desk drawer, retrieved a pair of leather gloves,
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[SPEAKER_02]: He gave the stack of papers one last tap on the desk, check their alignment, secured them with his trusty paperclip, and slid them into a thick black pouch.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward slipped off the gloves and stuffed them into his coat pocket.
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[SPEAKER_02]: It was time.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He both loved and hated this part.
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[SPEAKER_02]: It was usually a matter of seconds, and today was no different, as the security bot quickly turned onto his block and raced to a stop in front of him.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He calmly held his arms out, pouchin' hand as the bot scanned his body, starting at his head, sweeping to his toes.
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[SPEAKER_03]: TEMP, normal.
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[SPEAKER_03]: Weapons, non.
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[SPEAKER_03]: Status, clear.
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[SPEAKER_03]: Travel, allowed.
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Load full transcript
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward pulled the pouch back as the bot moved to Scanan.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He quickly retrieved his ID with a brief scan and a loud beep, Edward was...
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[SPEAKER_02]: Authorized.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He walked on.
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[SPEAKER_02]: It was his political party that wanted the bots, law and order, they argued.
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[SPEAKER_02]: But it was the opposition party that used them to scan for guns.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Now there was definitively more law, arguably more order, and decidedly fewer guns.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Still, no one was satisfied.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward had long ago decided it was a fair outcome.
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[SPEAKER_02]: There was much to admire about the bots, as there was with any well-run system.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Still, he couldn't bring himself to trust them fully.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Humans, he knew.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Humans he could read.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Bots?
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[SPEAKER_02]: One wrong word in a line of code?
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[SPEAKER_02]: Anyway, sometimes you just had to have faith in the system.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward thought a lot about what the city used to be as he walked.
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[SPEAKER_02]: They was going to be a day of memories, he knew that.
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[SPEAKER_02]: But he didn't expect the reminiscing to start so early.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He had moved to Rochester 20 years ago.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Just after all the chaos had splintered New York City.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The sudden influx of population had been hard on the city, especially in the southern and western sections.
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[SPEAKER_02]: But this particular part of Rochester had managed to thrive.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Though the United Nations headquarters had technically moved to London, many had resisted the move, with Rochester now serving as a sort of shadow service.
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[SPEAKER_02]: To Edward's view, that had been a positive development, with many issues being decided here before being presented to the larger group.
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[SPEAKER_02]: There was a certain chaos to it, yes, but beneath the chaos was order, an Edward was a central
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[SPEAKER_02]: He walked past a coffee shop, home to many bits of business.
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[SPEAKER_02]: When his den failed him, it was often a cup of coffee or hot tea that lubricated the deal.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward had even brought a date here once, though no amount of beverage would have helped that particular attempt at connecting.
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[SPEAKER_02]: It was no surprise to Edward.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The surprise had been that he'd even tried in the first place.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He was good at many things.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Love was not one of them.
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[SPEAKER_02]: More memories flooded Edwards' mind as he continued his trek.
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[SPEAKER_02]: It was an irritating development.
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[SPEAKER_02]: All of these thoughts were irrelevant to the task of the day.
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[SPEAKER_02]: What was the point of ruminating on anything Rochester?
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[SPEAKER_02]: He would allow himself only certain thoughts he decided.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Youth, family, his brother.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Anything else was noise?
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[SPEAKER_02]: An old school android stiffen movements stood at the end of the dock.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The gatekeeper for the nearby ferry.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward approached.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Glad he had walked.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Was feeling closer to himself now.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He was focused.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Determined.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Prepared.
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[SPEAKER_01]: 37 credits, please.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Edward tapped his glasses.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Transfer 37 credits.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Execute.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The glasses flickered in the Android step to side.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Two steps further, Edward paused again for a scan.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The security bot then hovered before him was even more dated than the Android.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The paint on its metal skin cracked and fading.
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[SPEAKER_03]: Temp, normal.
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[SPEAKER_03]: Weapons, non.
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[SPEAKER_03]: Status, clear.
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[SPEAKER_03]: Travel, allowed.
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[SPEAKER_02]: This time, Edward was ready with his ID.
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[SPEAKER_03]: Passport active.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The bot moved to scan his carrying pouch and would again pull it back, irritated.
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[SPEAKER_01]: You just scanned my ID.
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[SPEAKER_01]: You know who I am.
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[SPEAKER_01]: I am authorized.
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[SPEAKER_03]: All packages must be scanned.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Thrustrated Edward looked around.
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[SPEAKER_02]: It was always the old bots, seeing another security bot he waved it over.
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[SPEAKER_03]: How may I assist you?
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward pointed to the envelope.
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[SPEAKER_01]: This is a diplomatic pouch.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Subject to no scanner search.
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[SPEAKER_01]: You will authorize me for travel on this ferry.
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[SPEAKER_01]: He thrust his ID forward.
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[SPEAKER_01]: His irritation growing.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Scan please.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Now.
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[SPEAKER_01]: The bot scanned his ID.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Beeped.
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[SPEAKER_03]: authorized.
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[SPEAKER_01]: I suggest you get this bought updated, we're pull it from duty.
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[SPEAKER_03]: Yes sir, have a nice trip.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Systems, even the best ones work, until they don't.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward didn't like the thought, but what else can you do except reboot and move on?
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward leaned against a rail, gazed out at the water, a steady stream of air taxis buzzed overhead as the very slowly churned along.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Unlike the bots, Edward was consistently impressed by the air taxis, always on time and air of luxury, with just a slight tinge of adventure.
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[SPEAKER_02]: They were his preferred method of travel.
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[SPEAKER_02]: That had been the fairy when he was a child.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Not this fairy, of course, but the one outside of Paduka.
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[SPEAKER_02]: No adult would call that fairy luxurious, but to a child from Kentucky, it was the Queen Mary.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He rarely thought about his childhood, but today was a good day for that.
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[SPEAKER_02]: And they were among the thoughts he had allowed for this journey.
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[SPEAKER_02]: If he were going to indulge, those trips on the fairy
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[SPEAKER_02]: Unfortunately, thoughts about the fairy weren't the dominant memories of the moment.
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[SPEAKER_02]: His mind raced with questions.
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[SPEAKER_02]: What if he had been more like his brother?
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[SPEAKER_02]: Amos had inherited his father's kinder side.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He was gentler softer, more at ease than Edward.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He had all the traits their father put forward publicly.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward had inherited the calculating side, all the traits from which his father hid.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Perhaps he was too much a mirror.
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[SPEAKER_02]: What if he would have worked to hide those traits himself, would his father have admired his effort?
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward laughed to himself, louder not, it was folly to ponder though what ifs.
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[SPEAKER_02]: There was yesterday, there might be tomorrow, there is, today.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He looked back, mentally measuring the distance behind them.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Activate maps.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Show location.
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[SPEAKER_01]: A light blinked on his glasses.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Don't know where you are.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The gentleman approached.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The world changes quickly.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The man took his place on the rail next to Edward.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He was plainly dressed, simple by Edward standards.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The two men stared at the water in an awkward silence as strangers do.
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[SPEAKER_01]: It's like on this area.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Just in case you want to know.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, I know.
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[SPEAKER_02]: The silence grew between the men screaming and growing intensity.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Finally, the man turned to Edward.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Thirty years.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Not even a hug?
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[SPEAKER_01]: Unmoved, Edward stared at the water.
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[SPEAKER_01]: What did you expect, Amos?
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[SPEAKER_01]: You always were one cold son of a bitch.
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[SPEAKER_02]: A security bought a approach to scan to the men.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Amas shifted uneasy with the intrusion.
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[SPEAKER_01]: We're fine, relaxes, we're good.
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[SPEAKER_01]: The bot quickly moved on.
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[SPEAKER_01]: When is this they're scanning for the language now?
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[SPEAKER_01]: Aggression.
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[SPEAKER_01]: I don't feel aggression towards you Edward.
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[SPEAKER_01]: No.
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[SPEAKER_01]: What do you feel then?
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[SPEAKER_01]: I don't end violence mostly.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Some sadness, maybe.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Miss chances.
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[SPEAKER_01]: That's sort of thing.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Amis paused, pondered, his thoughts coalesced.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I could have used a big brother.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Edward bristled at the thought.
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[SPEAKER_01]: That's just it, isn't it?
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[SPEAKER_01]: Amis' face wrinkled with confusion.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Oh, forget it.
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[SPEAKER_01]: For the record, I never blamed you.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Children or children, parents or parents.
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[SPEAKER_01]: It wouldn't be right to hold one accountable for the actions of the other.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward adjusted his glasses looking past the bow of the boat.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He could see what he was waiting for, the virtual marker, his signal.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Behind him, multiple security bots gathered along the wall of the fairies navigational island.
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[SPEAKER_02]: One by one the bots plugged themselves in and powered down.
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[SPEAKER_02]: A different make in model, they were newer, shinier, more robust in every way.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Each was marked with a symbol on its metallic right shoulder, a red maple leaf.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward watched as a virtual line drawn across the water drifted past.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Welcome to Canada, first time.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Amos nodded.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Truth be told this was the first time he'd ever been outside of Kentucky.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Save for the quick jaunts to St. Louis for business, though.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He wasn't about to let Edward have that particular piece of satisfaction.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Toronto's a wonderful city.
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[SPEAKER_01]: There's this little bakery on Trados Street.
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[SPEAKER_01]: Great croissant.
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[SPEAKER_01]: That's why we're meeting you, so you can get a croissant.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Amos was here to get the unpleasantries over with.
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[SPEAKER_02]: His brother, he knew he wasn't here for baked goods.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Beyond that, whoever knew what Edward was thinking.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward looked around, he didn't care to make a scene, but he wanted to be respectful.
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[SPEAKER_02]: It wasn't his brother's fault.
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[SPEAKER_02]: He too was caught in the chaos even if he couldn't see it.
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[SPEAKER_02]: But they were relatively alone, so Edward slipped on his gloves, opened the pouch and pulled out the papers.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Paper.
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[SPEAKER_02]: God.
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[SPEAKER_02]: God was stuck in the past.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward silently chafed at the comment.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Of course, Amis didn't understand, couldn't see the message.
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[SPEAKER_02]: Edward was a master at sending and receiving specific messages in unique ways.
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[SPEAKER_02]: It was his job.
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[SPEAKER_02]: For the first time Edward thought, maybe he learned the skill from his father.
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[SPEAKER_02]: For Edward knew, the paper was meant as a thumb in Edward's eye.
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[SPEAKER_02]: His father was saying loud and clear, I understand the formalities.
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[SPEAKER_02]: I know how things should be done.
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[SPEAKER_02]: For you, I simply chose not to care.
15:49.825 --> 15:52.448
[SPEAKER_01]: You sure got there quick, to his lawyer.
15:54.269 --> 15:56.712
[SPEAKER_01]: I didn't have to go anywhere.
15:56.995 --> 15:58.819
[SPEAKER_01]: The will was on my doorstep.
15:59.842 --> 16:00.484
[SPEAKER_01]: Next day.
16:00.524 --> 16:11.451
[SPEAKER_02]: Another thumb in the eye, Edward thought, his father knew exactly where he lived, Edward slipped off the paperclip and handed the papers to Amos.
16:12.714 --> 16:14.498
[SPEAKER_02]: He left you everything.
16:15.338 --> 16:17.261
[SPEAKER_02]: Amos locked eyes with Edward.
16:17.741 --> 16:19.884
[SPEAKER_02]: He wanted his brother to get this message.
16:20.525 --> 16:23.709
[SPEAKER_01]: It was all he really wanted out of this day.
16:23.729 --> 16:23.809
[SPEAKER_01]: Wow.
16:23.829 --> 16:28.635
[SPEAKER_01]: Turns out being an unrepentant asshole actually has consequences.
16:30.838 --> 16:33.382
[SPEAKER_01]: You know, he suffered a lot at the end.
16:34.423 --> 16:38.148
[SPEAKER_01]: Okay, okay, okay, that's all you got to say is okay.
16:38.208 --> 16:42.173
[SPEAKER_01]: I'm saying you weren't there, I know.
16:42.271 --> 16:45.557
[SPEAKER_02]: frustrated, Amos flipped to the last page and continued reading.
16:46.098 --> 16:49.505
[SPEAKER_02]: He didn't notice as Edward fumbled with the paperclip.
16:49.525 --> 16:50.427
[SPEAKER_02]: I didn't ask for this.
16:51.709 --> 16:54.234
[SPEAKER_02]: It was true, but he did deserve it.
16:54.875 --> 16:55.436
[SPEAKER_02]: He knew that.
16:56.418 --> 17:00.887
[SPEAKER_02]: Even if the family business was worth just a few hundred thousand credits.
17:02.437 --> 17:04.159
[SPEAKER_01]: Edward pushed away from the rail.
17:04.640 --> 17:06.983
[SPEAKER_01]: Guess that finishes things between us.
17:08.425 --> 17:12.430
[SPEAKER_01]: Just like that, you'd... Hello, goodbye and... What?
17:13.131 --> 17:13.531
[SPEAKER_02]: You're done?
17:13.992 --> 17:15.894
[SPEAKER_02]: Amas hadn't expected anything more.
17:16.876 --> 17:21.041
[SPEAKER_02]: Still, he was realizing There was a part of him that had hoped.
17:22.202 --> 17:23.484
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward extended his arms.
17:24.345 --> 17:24.766
[SPEAKER_02]: Fine.
17:25.587 --> 17:26.588
[SPEAKER_02]: We'll hug.
17:26.922 --> 17:28.724
[SPEAKER_02]: He wrapped Amos in an embrace.
17:29.646 --> 17:37.436
[SPEAKER_02]: Behind Amos' back Edward raised his hand and with the paper clip end in just such a way, picked his brother's neck.
17:37.456 --> 17:39.499
[SPEAKER_02]: Amos pushed away, felt his neck.
17:40.320 --> 17:40.981
[SPEAKER_02]: What was that?
17:41.381 --> 17:43.084
[SPEAKER_02]: A bee sting, a finger nail?
17:43.764 --> 17:47.269
[SPEAKER_02]:
No, it was more like a jab, a needle maybe.
17:48.150 --> 17:51.715
[SPEAKER_02]: He staggered, but he never done to him.
17:51.695 --> 17:58.086
[SPEAKER_02]: Amis' world began to swirl, and were reached for him, steadied him, helped him to his knees.
17:58.847 --> 18:02.253
[SPEAKER_02]: It was loving, gentle, confusing.
18:04.157 --> 18:07.122
[SPEAKER_02]: Amis' vision blurred, his heart pounded.
18:07.382 --> 18:10.588
[SPEAKER_02]: Ha ha ha, fought to get the words out.
18:10.608 --> 18:11.830
[SPEAKER_01]: You said you didn't blind me.
18:13.818 --> 18:18.049
[SPEAKER_01]: Ah, you, you, you, you didn't lay me.
18:18.711 --> 18:20.415
[SPEAKER_01]: This isn't playing me, Miss.
18:21.799 --> 18:24.626
[SPEAKER_01]: It's putting things to their rightful speed.
18:25.468 --> 18:26.430
[SPEAKER_01]: You don't even want it.
18:26.912 --> 18:30.561
[SPEAKER_02]: With that, Amos dropped to the deck, dead.
18:30.710 --> 18:35.818
[SPEAKER_02]: The paper is scattered in the wind as a swarm of security bots race to scan amisses body.
18:36.439 --> 18:36.860
[SPEAKER_02]: Start!
18:37.320 --> 18:37.721
[SPEAKER_02]: To see!
18:37.901 --> 18:47.757
[SPEAKER_02]: Several bots surrounded the scene, they furiously scanned, Edward, the body, the immediate surroundings, a beehive of detective work in an instant.
18:47.973 --> 18:51.497
[SPEAKER_02]: One of the bots beeped as it scanned the paperclip in Edward's hand.
18:51.797 --> 18:57.384
[SPEAKER_02]: Weapon, found, substance, poison, processing, rising.
18:57.444 --> 18:59.166
[SPEAKER_02]: Another bot quickly cuffed Edward.
18:59.706 --> 19:01.048
[SPEAKER_02]: Transmitting edits.
19:01.508 --> 19:02.810
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward waited calmly.
19:03.210 --> 19:04.572
[SPEAKER_02]: He thought about the croissant.
19:04.932 --> 19:05.793
[SPEAKER_02]: Edent examined.
19:06.474 --> 19:07.515
[SPEAKER_02]: Verlick incoming.
19:07.755 --> 19:09.437
[SPEAKER_02]: So flaky, buttery.
19:09.858 --> 19:10.839
[SPEAKER_02]: He looked forward to it.
19:10.919 --> 19:11.319
[SPEAKER_04]: guilty.
19:12.000 --> 19:12.661
[SPEAKER_02]: I did not find.
19:12.841 --> 19:14.503
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward nodded to his pocket.
19:15.192 --> 19:26.611
[SPEAKER_02]: a bot retrieved the ID, and would go, diplomat, united states, stand by for processing, immunity confirmed.
19:27.192 --> 19:29.597
[SPEAKER_02]: Edward smiled as the bots removed the cuffs.
19:30.458 --> 19:33.904
[SPEAKER_02]: He could always count on the Canadians for their polite efficiency.
19:34.826 --> 19:37.470
[SPEAKER_02]: Here was a country that knew how to run a system.
19:38.058 --> 19:42.122
[SPEAKER_02]: He glanced at the gathered crowd as the bots dispersed, returning to their duties.
19:43.303 --> 19:46.265
[SPEAKER_02]: Oh, a beautiful day for a croissant, yes.
19:47.126 --> 19:53.932
[SPEAKER_02]: He turned, tossed the gloves into the water, and leaned against the rail, emotionless, watching the shore approach.
19:55.353 --> 19:58.496
[SPEAKER_02]: With things set right, he had decisions to make.
19:59.537 --> 20:06.343
[SPEAKER_02]: A shame, Edward thought, he would have liked, handing the family business down to his younger brother.
20:07.893 --> 20:10.900
[SPEAKER_00]: papers from Crooked Stories Theater.