Desert Skies - Chapter 26 - The Inter State (Part 1)

Episode Date: November 17, 2025

When last we left the crew, they had just endured a session of flushing out their regrets. Tendy, regretting not giving Mac the time he deserves, is looking for an opportunity for them to spend more one on one time together. In this episode, they get that time, in a place they're not sure is even in time...any time. A place called the Inter State. Let's take a walk. Links ⁠⁠Join Club 86⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit our Merch Store⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit our Website⁠⁠⁠ Socials: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠, and the ⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠ Credits Desert Skies is made by Jared Carter. He does voices, and writes, and edits the sounds and stuff. The show is Executive Produced by Michael Freiberg. He's the one who makes sure people hear it. Music Featured This Episode: Spring Dance - Forever Sunset (Announcements) Sacred Space 432 - 369 Fading Memories - Martin Landh Reflections - Megan Wofford Fear of the Dark - Etienne Roussel Abandoned Shopping Mall - Stationary Sign Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Amex Platinum, you have access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide. So your experience before takeoff is a taste of what's to come. That's the powerful backing of Amex. Conditions apply. This episode is brought to you by Peloton. Breakthrough the busiest time of year with the brand new Peloton Cross Training Tread Plus, powered by Peloton IQ. With real-time guidance and endless ways to move,

you can personalize your workouts and train with confidence. helping you reach your goals in less time. Let yourself run, lift, sculpt, push, and go. Explore the new Peloton cross-training Treadplus at OnePeloton.com. Hi, friends. This is Jared. Before today's episode begins, I want to take a moment to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined Club 86 this week.

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notes, find links to our website, all of our different socials, and join us on Discord. If you don't know what that is. It's kind of like AOL instant messenger, but everyone's chill, welcoming, and they love desert skies. With that, enjoy chapter 26, the interstate, part one. For the best listening experience, headphones are recommended. Okay. Whoa. Whoa. Stop, stop, stop. Take a deep breath. You're doing okay. I've changed my mind.

I don't wish to continue. Don't be so hard on yourself. For a guy who spent his entire existence walking, making the transition to car driving, is quite the challenge. But you're getting there. Now, do me a favor. What is it? Stop trying to drive with one foot on the brake and one foot on the accelerator. But I can't.

But you need to. If I have one foot on each pedal, it allows me to press the brake quicker in the event I need to. It also makes it easier to make mistakes. Not to mention, you keep pushing on both pedals at the same time. You're going to ruin the brakes, which could lead to some bad times down the road. Very well. One foot. Which one? The right one.

Of course, the correct one. But, oh, I see what you're saying. You got this, Corson. You're doing fine. It's just like the game of life, Corson. You mean Corson's life. That's kind of a lazy renaming. All right, man.

Ready? Don't call me man. Yes, I'm ready. Good. Nice and easy now. I'm so tempted to tap the break. Don't do it. But the temptation is there.

It's pulling me. I must tap the break. Resist, Corson. Carson, resist. The desire is growing. Don't let it hold you back from becoming the driver. You're meant to be. The desire is subsiding.

Now it is growing again. Don't let it. Now I feel that it has left me. I'm driving. I'm driving. Oh, look at me go. Good job, Corson. Well done.

Oh, my goodness. This is fun. I'm going to roll. down my window. Sure, but keep your eyes on the road. Ah, that feeling. The wind blowing through my hair. It's so exhilarating. Ha-ha. Nice. The desire to go faster is growing within me. You can go a little faster. Oh my God. Slow down, Corson. You're going to take us off the road. I can't. Why in the world not? I don't have a foot on the brake pedal. Like you told me. I told you before, you use one foot for both.

Take your foot off the gas and put it on the brake. Which one is the brake? The one your foot isn't on. Is everyone okay? I'm okay. I'm sorry. Don't stress it, man. I'm just thankful that when we left the highway, we ended up in a clearing like this.

Some cacti and creosote, so better than a boulder in Palavertees, shouldn't be too much damage. You guys all right? I'm okay. Smacked my head pretty hard on the headrest, but it was soft enough that I'm okay. That's the comfort of a skylark. Cash, what about you? Cash, I said, are you okay? Corson turn the light on.

Which one is it? There, next to the steering wheel. Oh, yes, of course. Light on. Oh, my God! What is it? She's dead. I know, I know.

We're all dead. She just looks so dead. Where'd she go? She's in the... trunk. Oh, I'll open it. Hey, Robo Girl. You're all right? I'm okay. Embarrassed a little. Because you transferred to the cash about? Yeah. Your survival instincts kicked in. No big deal. Survival instincts, Tandy. I thought we were dead. Fair. Fair, Mac. I'm sorry. It's just

I've spent the greater part of existence inside metal frames. Being in the flesh just feels kind of weird. So, stay in your metal frame. I mean, what would we do with my body? I think your robot frame is cool, Cash. Just pop your body in the trunk. There's not enough room in there with all the snacks and games. Maybe if we took some of the snacks out. Bodies are foldable, Cash.

Pop her in. You can take her for walks every once in a while. Stretch her out. My existence was so less weird before I met you people. You like it. I love it, actually. We got bigger things to discuss than Cash's frame. The Skylarks got some scratches, but apart from that seems pretty all right.

Only thing is, we got two pop tires. Do we have any spares? All Skylarks come equipped with a compact spare, but only one. We need two. And either way, compacts will get you a ways, but they aren't great for long trips. What do we do? Well, hmm, we find a communication station, call Greg and Betty. They can submit a request for some new tires.

Submit a request from whom? I don't know. They put the request in the cash unit they got there. It shows up in the trunk of a traveler's skylark. It's how we got supplies. I see. And we wait for the traveler with the tires to come to us. Correct. How long will that take? Depends. Hey, guys, what is that? What's what?

The sky there. Down the road. It looks different. Maybe it's my old man eyes. But I have no idea what you're talking about. Oh, it's barely visible. It's hard to describe. Good catch, Tendi. It's out. Actually, the end of the desert sphere. Yeah, I think I can see the sign up ahead. Interesting. I've only ever driven through.

Didn't notice. Same. It's so freaky. It's like the road ends and then boom, forest. Scared the crap out of me the first time. You think that's freaky. Try walking through it. It's something.

I like it. It's weird. Well, if that's the entrance to the forest sphere, we're going to have to walk through it. There's a communication station. about an eighth of a mile in, near the long pause. I can call the station from there. Oh, Jerry, I'd love to see that bear again. I'd love to drink a beer again.

Well, then, let's start walking. This is it. Ready to go to the forest sphere? Ready. Okay, just start walking and don't stop until you're all the way through. Why? Why what? Why not just stop for a little bit?

You'll see. It's strange. I don't think it's a good idea to linger. What is it, Cash? It's called the interstate. You mean the interstate? No, I mean the interstate. Did you get into my shack juice?

Because I'll know if there's any missing. It's what the prime mover called it. It's not an interstate. Why would there be an interstate in the middle of a highway? So, what's the interstate? I don't know for sure. Where does it exist? Is it here or on the forest sphere?

Neither, I think. Okay, question. I've always wondered, are the spheres like planets? I've always thought of them as disks surrounding each other, like growing outward. Does that make sense? Really? I've always thought of them more like ideas, something outside the physical, like a sphere of influence. That's deep. Corson, any guesses?

It doesn't matter to me in the slightest. Fair. The truth is, nobody knows exactly. My guess is that they're not connected geographically, but connected by the... interstate. Which is, what again? I don't know. Something different.

Something that isn't quite astral, isn't quite physical. It's like it exists somewhere out of space and time. And it smells faintly of chamomile. Really? I always picked up on some blueberry pop-tart. What about you, Cash? I've never been able to smell when I walk through, being a robot and all. Anyways, I don't suggest lingering there.

Neither do I. Something about it is strange. Are you guys being serious? Yeah, it's weird, but it's also awesome. A little chill, a little elevating. You guys should totally hang out in there for a bit. Experience a higher state of consciousness. Come on, live a little while you're still dead. Hmm. I don't think so.

Well, I think she's right, Tand. Where are we going to get to try this again? I mean, I guess we'll have like 30-something more times, but just why not do it now? Besides, what you said back at the rest area. Yeah, yeah, you're right, this is a good opportunity. I mean, what's the worst that can happen? Okay, just be careful. I know we've experienced a lot of things that were unable to be explained.

But the interstate is something more than that. Okay, this is weird. I feel weird. I feel weird too. It's kind of cool. I'm trying to decide if I'm freaking out a little. Why decide? I don't know. We've been through some really strange stuff together. We sure have. Sometimes I wish I had something to compare it too.

I know exactly what you mean. Right? People who come from the physical plane straight to here have got to be so freaked out. Yeah, you know what's weird? What? I got this real general understanding of Earth. Yeah. Me too. We've talked about it.

Yeah, I know. When you think about Earth, what sticks out the most? Well, before I answer, what is it for you? Sleep? I just can't believe people gotta sleep so much. I mean, I've taken some naps. You still take naps. Yeah, at first because I was so upset, but now just because they're kind of nice.

But there they do it so much. So much. They miss, like, a bunch of their life. Yeah, it's strange. So, what about you? You remember why Olenus wanted Cassius' soul so much? Yeah, because he knew she was still alive on the physical plane. He wanted to eat life. Like the cereal. Wow, there's a game called life and a cereal called life.

Yeah, and we've had travelers who come here and they notice that it's missing. Life. It's not here. And they're sad about it. What does this have to do with my question? Here, they care about life. And there, it seems like they don't care about it much at all. What do you mean? I don't know exactly. But when I think of Earth, I think I'm just surprised that violence is one of the main things that comes to mind. When I think of it. Damn, man. I thought you were going to say something like tollbooths or...

Yeah. Yeah, I'm glad it's not violent here. Yeah, I mean, it's a little violent sometimes, but you've had your fair share of bouts with travelers. Yeah, I get a little fisty coffee sometimes. I'm surprised you've never hit me. When we first started working together, you didn't seem too happy with me. No, no I wasn't. Tendi, can I ask you something? Of course.

Do you think I was violent back there? What do you mean? On the physical plane? Yeah, when you talk about people not caring about other people's lives, do you think I was like that? No, no, Mack. Not at all. Why are you so concerned with who you were all of a sudden? I don't know. I mean, yeah, I do know. It's because we're going back. What are we going back too?

Mac, remember, when Cash came back, she told you that you were one of the sweetest men who ever lived. Yeah, but, uh, someone else said, um... Someone else said what? It's nothing. Mack, nobody else here knows anything about who you were on the physical plane. Yeah, yeah, that's right. Another question. Yep. We didn't like each other much when we first started working together. When did that change for you? Wow, that's kind of a tough one. Do you remember? No, no, I don't remember. It just kind of happened, right? Yeah, there had to have been something. I mean, how else would we...

Whoa, what? Who put this here? Huh. Is there anything inside it? Doesn't look like it. Why would anyone just leave a car? cardboard box sitting in the middle of the interstate. You mean the interstate. I said what I said. Okay. What's it doing here? No clue. Is there anything written on it? Fragile? No, I don't think so. Oh, wait, right here. It says squeeze-its. What's squeeze-its? You don't remember? No. We used to get those at the station. They're a fruit drink. You twist off the top. Oh, they come in a six-pack. Those are the ones. Yeah, I remember. But those were good. Wonder why they stopped sending them. I don't know.

I bet you we can find some on the sphere of dugs or friends or whatever it's called now. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I bet we can. I just remembered something. What's that? I remember when things changed for me. Yeah. Like when your mind changed about me?

Yeah. Well, when was it? Do you remember that time? Cash register? Yes, attendant. It looks like a traveler stole another one of our hoses. Why do they keep doing that? I have no idea.

Humans are so weird. You're not going to hear any disagreements from me. Anyways, would you mind putting in a request for another one? Of course, attendant. Hey, Cash? Attendant. What's my real name? I don't know.

What's in the next life? I don't know. Who are the superiors? Our superiors. Yeah, but who are they? I don't know. What's at the center of a tootsie roll pop? A chewy chocolate-flavored tootsie roll.

How long are you going to ask me the same questions? How long do you think the astral plane will be in existence? Eternity. Then, about that long. I see. Do you know where Mac is? I need him for something. Right here.

What you need? For you to stop doing that. Okay, I will. But you didn't. Ha, ha, nope. Back to the story. Well, then I asked you. We got a shipment of luncheables coming in with the next traveler.

Would you mind? Lifting the box out of the trunk? Yes. Only if you do me a favor. What's that? Work on. getting stronger. Wow, the same joke you always tell. Bravo. Gosh, I must have made fun of your arms at least. I don't know. Seven times. Seven. You're

joking. Eight? Eight? Mac, you said... Tandy, one of the gas pump hoses is leaking. Mind if I cut off your arm and hollow out your arm and use it as a replacement. Ha ha ha ha, Mac. Hey, Tandy, we're all out of toothpicks. You mind shoving your arm between this tooth and this one? Popcorn Colonel stuck. Mack? Cash, have you seen my magnifying glass? I'm trying to find Tendi's arms. Mac.

Well, Traveler, sorry you died. Could be worse. You could have noodle arms, like Tendi over here. Mac. Tendi. When you move your arms, do you think of it as a stick shift? Get it? Stick, shift?

Like your arms are sticks and they're moving. Mac. Cash, can you help me with some cooking instructions? What is it, mechanic? I'm trying to figure out if I should add the beef flavored seasoning packet. before or after boiling Tindy's arms. Because there are noodles. Mac.

Hey Tendi, I accidentally dropped a peanut into an ant den. Think you could reach down there and grab it? I don't want to risk damaging those little tunnels. Mac. Hey Tendi, I heard you could start a fire with two small sticks. Rub your arms together and let's see. Mac. Hey Tendi, you think you could help me lift something?

Yeah. Really? Why do you think that? Okay, okay. You've proved your point. Fine. I said nine things about your arms. Those were the first nine. I could probably remember a thousand more. Wow. You really hold on to shit.

What does this story have to do with when you started thinking we could might be friends? It was when... Cash, you see Tandy anywhere? I need to see if he borrowed my tire gauge. He's by the soda coal mechanic. All right. What in the hell are you doing? What does it look like I'm doing?

It looks like you're trying to pick up a heavy box. Then that's what I'm doing. Why don't you go away? Dude, you know I'll do this for you. You just got to ask. Yeah? Well, maybe I'm tired of asking. Why?

You know why. Ever since I got here, all you do is make jokes about my arms. I get it. I'm tall, I'm lanky. I'm not a bodybuilder, Mac. I know. I don't care. You don't care?

Seriously, Mac? I'm serious. I don't care. Then why do you make those jokes all the time? They're funny. Can you stop? Nah, man, probably not. I don't think I have any control.

over it. Look, I know you don't respect me. I know you never will. But stop making me feel weak. Who said you were weak? You over and over again. Yeah, but that's a very specific form of weak. I mean, you got average strength, okay? No big deal. It's fine. But by comparison, I'm some sort of God. Okay. But Tendi, you're strong in ways I'll never be. What do you mean? Well, for one thing, I've been giving you shit ever since you got here, and not once have you ever talked about leaving. Well, how do you know I'm not thinking about it? We're both thinking about it. You've already been around so much longer than the old attendant.

Really? You've told me so many stories about him. Yeah, I mean, I think he was probably here for like 90,000 travelers. Which is a lot. Yeah, but not comparatively. You and I've been around so long we'd probably seen. 400,000. That many?

I'm just guessing. So you got stay in power. And, uh, well, you're smarter than me. What? No, I'm not, I'm not smarter than... And that's the other thing. I don't care a whole lot if I make someone feel bad when they're being a jerk. But I've been being a jerk to you, haven't I?

Well, yeah, kind of. And you still care if I feel like I'm dumb or not. Yeah, I do. I don't want you to feel dumb. You're not dumb. So look, man, truth is, I'm a little jealous. You're a lot younger than me, you're more self-disciplined, you got one hell of a work ethic. Thank you.

The young part I'd kind of disagree with, I'd say we're both ancient now. Hmm, yeah, but I died with some wrinkles. I like your crow's feet. Thank you. I call them smile lines, but let me help you with this box. What is it? Squeeze its. New flavor, I think.

Dude, did you try to cut my own handles into it so I could lift it easier? That's actually pretty smart. Thanks. Wow. Yeah, that's a good memory. That's the first time I realized that you weren't quite as hard a person as I first thought. Yeah, I'm a big old softy. Tendi, look at the box. What? No way. Those, those are your handles. Mack, what is this place? I don't know. You want to leave? No, no, I don't. When did things? start changing for you? Well, I think around the time of that talk, but that was more like coming to an understanding,

at least for me. Then what was it for you? I got to think about that. We can walk a little longer. It's the matchat or the three ensemble Cadocephora of the fact that I've been to denishé who energize all the time?

Mm, it's the ensemble. The form of standard and mini regrouped, what old ben? And the embellage, too beau, who is practically pre to donate. And I know that I'd

They would have them offer them. But I guard the Summer Fridays and Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez. I'm just come. The most ensemble, the Cado of the Feds, it's Shephora, Summer Fridays, Rare Beauty, Way, Cifora collection, and other part of vite. Procurre you see form of standard and mini,

regrouped for a better quality of price. On link on Cifora.ca or in magazine. How long do we leave them in there? I feel like we should probably go in after them. I guess if we have to, we should give them a little more time. I'm sure they're fine. Maybe they're already out.

Cash, can you see anything? Maybe they're farther down either side of us. Let's see. Nothing that way. Hmm, there's always a chance they could have come out on the other side. Maybe we should go check it out just to make sure. Yeah, maybe. Wait.

What? There's someone out there down that way. A human. Just wandering the desert. A woman. She's walking straight towards the interstate. She's probably just trying to get to the forest sphere. Maybe her car's over there.

So, she's just exploring. Maybe. Yeah, but maybe not. She just walked in. Should one of us check it out? Let's see if she comes out the other side first. Like I said, she's probably just passing through. Give her a little bit.

Are you sure? Why are you acting so worried, Cash? I don't know. I think I just have this fear. Fear about what? That it's hard to put into words. What if something doesn't want us to find? what we're looking for.

That's preposterous. Is it? Isn't it? We can wait. But just a little while. Then I'm going in. I think that sounds good. Come on, let's go to the forest sphere.

I can't wait to smell those pines. Yeah, and then when I went to plug it back in, I forgot I hadn't put the lead back on. I didn't know about that. Yeah, I mean, I don't tell you everything that happens in the basement. That's weird. Why not? I'm just saying, sometimes you're so busy. busy. Tendi look. There. What's that? I don't know. I'm too short. Grab it before it flies

by. Got it. Well done, sir. It's, uh, it's an empty Woppers bag. That's it. What? You don't remember? Woppers? I've had lots of Woppers. No, not that. Okay, let me set the scene. I'm in the store. Well, now, let's see what we got here. It's been a while since we've gotten a new variety. Yeah, it has, hasn't it? Ah, there it is. What is it? What is it? Cash, no offense. Why would you care? You can't eat it. That's mean.

Yeah, I guess so. Let's see. Okay. Ria's cottage cheese and pineapple slices. Do those things not sound good to you? I mean, cottage cheese is just pretty divisive in general. I've heard travelers talk about it, but it's what it says under it. What's it say? Eat cold. Ugh. Eat cold. That's unnatural. I got to show this to Tendie. Maybe something's broken with the afterlife or something. Where is he at?

He hasn't come back in since she left. Huh. Should I check on him? Probably mechanic. Okay, but first, did we ever get more whoppers? Yes, mechanic. They're on the shelf. Ah, here you are. Got all of these things. Okay, I'm going to go find Mr. Attendant. Tandy. Tandy. Where are you at? Over here, Mac.

What's you doing sitting on the ground? I, um... Are you crying? Um, yeah. Why? We just got a new burrito. Does that really happen? I thought maybe you were joking. Really? You've seen all the burritos we have in the store, right?

I thought that was just clever marketing. It's clever, but... I don't think it's for marketing purposes. This, um... This place is so weird. I've never seen you cry. I'm kind of freaking out, man. I'm sorry.

No, don't be sorry, man. Tell me what's wrong. That woman, Ria. What about her? I couldn't stop her. Yeah, that's how it is. What could I have said differently? What could I have possibly done or told her that would have set her on the path to the next life?

I failed. Don't you understand? If I'm being honest, Tendi, I don't quite understand. I think on some subconscious level. Maybe I'm kind of trying to steer people towards becoming burritos, especially when they're mean. She wasn't trying to be mean. She was upset.

She felt like she'd abandoned people. It didn't matter how much I tried to comfort her. She wasn't going to... You really care about people. Of course I do. You don't? Oh, yeah, I mean, I do. But I think I got a part of me that can, you know, turn it off.

Otherwise, this job would kind of drive me nuts. How did the old attendant handle it? That old dude didn't seem to care at all. We got so many burritos when he was in charge. What's he mean? Nah, he just, his mind was elsewhere a lot of the time. It's like he was just biding this time. Waiting for something.

Waiting for what? Well, you, I think. Maybe. Look, I think it's fine to be upset about it, and now that I think about it, maybe you are right to be upset about it. Because she was really worried, wasn't she? Oh, God. No, no, no, no. See, this is why I don't like to think about this stuff, man.

Because if I think about it, too long, I start getting soft and... Hey, hey, hey, what's that in your hand? Are those whoppers? What? Woppers, the original malted milk balls. I love these things Really? I didn't know that

I never see you with them Yeah, that's because once I start I don't know how to stop That and And what? Well, I know how much you like them So you leave them for me? Yeah

That's really cool man You like care about me or something Well yeah Of course I do You want to share this bag with me Yes, I do And then we finished off the whole bag. Remember?

Yeah, I do. And then we had another and another. And we finished off the whole box of them. Tendi. Yeah, Mac? You didn't notice something. What? This isn't the interstate.

We're in this memory. We're at the station. Uh-oh. That can't be good. Right? I don't know. What happened? Cash said this place was weird.

This is very weird. How do we get back? I'm sure things will fix themselves. Right? Maybe we should just hang out here. I guess we have to. Well, as long as we're stuck here. What?

I'm gonna go get the whole box. You mean? We are going to gorge on whoppers in the interstate. The interstate. That sounds amazing. I'll be right back. Now, where did we keep the whoppers? Wait, cash?

Darn. I thought that would work. Oh, hi. Hello. Where did you come from? We were already here. Where did you come from? I think I'd better get back to my friend.

Stay. But I can't. I... You can go back to your friend when she's done with him. Who? Mother! This episode was written, produced, and performed by me, Jared Carter. The show is executive produced by the majestic Michael Freiberg.

Thanks for listening. Until next time, safe travels. The Fable and Falling Network, where fiction producers flourish. Curious Matter Anthology, the multi-award-winning hit fiction podcast, is back for a brand-new season. Please proceed to a customs terminal for process. This summer, take the journey to the Red Planet. in the exile. What'd you have to do to piss off a whole planet? I'm not really sure how to answer that. Tiffany Smith stars his ex-Earth federal agent, Bryce Gordon. Put on a badge and it becomes a shield

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