- ATHAN
- REDACTED Postmortem is a spin-off series of our main series REDACTED.
- ATHAN
- They provide world-building details and are encouraged for the full experience.
- ATHAN
- We highly recommend you listen to the paired REDACTED episode this is titled after before proceeding.
- ATHAN
- Previously on REDACTED.
- MOLLY
- Hold on, Mr. Bear. I need to take this.
- SLOAN
- Addendum to the Postmortem incident report regarding the case of ATPS-2103, colloquially known as Phonics Phone. TRU members in attendance, Eli Reyes. Meeting recording by public relations Agent Sloan Summers.
- SLOAN
- At 0134 hours this morning, the storm caused rolling blackouts in the area of TRU headquarters. Phonics Phone is presently residing in TRU's office while it awaits further processing and permanent containment.
- SLOAN
- Given the blackout and the resulting containment risk, the mezzanine has ordered an updated status report. Agent Reyes, the floor is yours.
- ELI
- Sure. Due to security measures we have in place, there isn't much to report. We have a constant 24-7 live feed of the Aberration, all powered by a battery bank in addition to the backup generator. The Phonics Phone is safely contained, and we've just been waiting for pickup by processing.
- ELI
- The unfortunate side effect is we have to monitor its charge regularly, which reduces our team's already limited bandwidth.
- SLOAN
- Yes, Agent Reyes, we're well aware.
- SLOAN
- And, as the Aberration is under your team's care, it is your responsibility to keep it secure. If the solution is too costly, then the impetus to come up with a better solution falls on your shoulders.
- ELI
- Yeah, I would like to reiterate lightly, however, that the Aberration was only supposed to be stored in our office temporarily. Processing already has permanent storage for it. just needs to be moved back.
- SLOAN
- Which has already been mentioned. Yes.
- ELI
- Right. So, speaking of, is there any chance you'd be able to speak to Agent Koska about prioritizing the transfer?
- SLOAN
- No, there is not. If you're concerned about the timing of the Aberration's relocation, then, well, I suggest you coordinate with Agent Koska yourself.
- ELI
- Right.
- ELI
- Okay.
- ELI
- I can do that.
- SLOAN
- Great. Do you have anything else to report for the addendum?
- ELI
- Yes, actually. The whole situation had our team paranoid about potential security failures, so we took some time to brainstorm what we could do in the event that it escaped containment, and we've established some contingencies.
- ELI
- Would that be pertinent information for the addendum?
- SLOAN
- It would. Please continue.
- ELI
- Certainly.
- ELI
- So the first thing we did was place a basic BLE tracker in Phonics Phone, so we'd be able to trace if it escaped...
- SLOAN
- I see.
- ELI
- Additionally, the targeted families have complicated psychiatric histories. It's difficult to distinguish cause and effect, though, if the history is due to some pre-existing condition or the Aberration itself.
- SLOAN
- Understood. Nonetheless, it's all a useful addition to the file. Maybe Dr. Danse can look into it further.
- SLOAN
- I'll admit that was some impressive profiling.
- SLOAN
- Established MO, geo-mapping, credit where it's due, Agent Reyes.
- ELI
- I'll be sure to let the team know.
- SLOAN
- Right.
- SLOAN
- Now, on to some other matters.
- SLOAN
- ATPS-2103 holds a pretty extensive record.
- SLOAN
- What's even more of a miracle, I actually have a recording regarding Phonics Phone from Dr. Danse following the first containment. Agent Clark was behind that case, I believe.
- SLOAN
- It might be pertinent for you to hear.
- ELI
- Okay.
- DR. DANSE
- This is Dr. Danse, laboratory report for ATPS-2103.
- DR. DANSE
- The Phonics Phone is a previously defunct toy created in 1981.
- DR. DANSE
- It has a full alphanumeric keyboard, a small display screen, and a telephone receiver.
- DR. DANSE
- It was marketed as an educational toy with five game modes intended to make learning fun.
- DR. DANSE
- The Aberration itself possesses little to no physical threat.
- DR. DANSE
- While it is able to spatially relocate, it is otherwise unable to interact with the tangible world.
- DR. DANSE
- The basic motivation of the entity is to instigate domestic homicide via manipulation of its victims' emotional and cognitive states.
- DR. DANSE
- It seems ineffective on targets that are more capable of emotional regulation, which is likely why it targets grieving children.
- DR. DANSE
- In similar cases, we would expect the aberrant category to include a cognitive type manifestation, but this does not appear to be the case here.
- DR. DANSE
- Our research indicates the Phonics Phone influence over its victims is purely mundane.
- DR. DANSE
- As you can see, the Phonics Phone ultimately functions like the original toy, utilizing the talk to me game mode to establish rapport with the victim before sewing seeds of mistrust within the household, and then finally pressing the victim to commit acts of violence.
- DR. DANSE
- Regarding its ability to spatially relocate, laboratory staff have not witnessed the phone's movements.
- DR. DANSE
- But it is clear that it can and has moved.
- DR. DANSE
- This leads us to believe that if kept under surveillance, the Aberration will remain static.
- DR. DANSE
- Low-ranking Agents will watch it in shifts until a more permanent containment solution is established.
- SLOAN
- That's all you need to see. The remaining 6 hours are just footage of Danse dissecting wires in plastic. Boring and irrelevant.
- ELI
- Out of curiosity, did any low-ranking Agents end up dying on their shift?
- SLOAN
- How did...
- SLOAN
- That's not information I'm at liberty to share.
- ELI
- So...
- ELI
- Yeah, then.
- SLOAN
- Maybe.
- ELI
- Right.
- SLOAN
- Either way, it doesn't concern you because your team has a 24-7 surveillance feed set up.
- SLOAN
- So, not really an issue, is it?
- ELI
- All right, if you say so.
- ELI
- Is there anything else you need from me?
- SLOAN
- You're free to go.
- ELI
- All right, sounds good.
- OUTRO
- Outro theme
- ATHAN
- Thank you for listening to another episode of REDACTED Postmortem, starring Lyssa Jay as Sloan Summers, Derek Moreland as Dr. Danse, and Athan as Eli Reyes.
- ATHAN
- If you're enjoying REDACTED, visit the redactedunit.com for more info, theredactedunit.com/discord to connect, and patreon.com/theredactedunit for behind the scenes and additional bonus content.
- ATHAN
- Some new bonus content coming very soon.
- ATHAN
- Until then, thanks for listening.
Transcript from the production script, matched to the final audio.
