Desert Skies - Chapter 31 - The Answer She Doesn't Have the Question To

Episode Date: July 7, 2026

Snake, rain, rabbit, 0-1900, 79, m, m, 115, the gate opens. The Prime Mover said it was an invitation. To what? Something The Grand Trivia Lizard wants an invite to, and that's a fact. Num num num. 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. Thank you to early listeners, Kelly Cusack and Jerad Hinds, for providing quality and continuity checks for this episode. Music Featured This Episode Only in the Dark - Rasure Cellar Case - Mike Franklyn Unvaried - Elin Piel Fear of the Dark - Etienne Roussel The Sneak-Up - Leimoti Long Term and Ashes - Daniella Ljungsberg Fragile Whispers - Gavin Luke A Murder Story - Mary Riddle Marker 0 - Luba Hilman You're Not Hiding Very Well - Travor Kowalski Love at First Sight - Cherry the Penguin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edgar said to the interviewer, he was convinced that the thing out there wasn't a vault at all. Yeah, I know what he thought. Dr. Eggers didn't think it was designed to keep things out. I know what he thought. He thought it was designed to keep something in. Do you even understand the difficulty trying to keep a base like Fathom at the bottom of the ocean from killing everyone in it on a daily basis? Oh my God. Everyone hold on to something.

I think whatever is on the other side of that door out there, it's not friendly. I think it's trying to get out. That, my friend, is a dire combination. That's a bad sign. Get out of the door! It's spreading like some kind of technological contagion. We can either stop it here or watch the world burn. Fathom, the first season of Darylite.

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eras Samantha Tram across the galaxy, she expected the job to be over and done with quickly, but now they're stuck with each other and they have a job to do. Think about Tomnacon as a sort of student loan company. You take a loan from them and then they own you until you've

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Hi friends. I'm glad to see all your smiling faces in my mind. Does that sound creepy? Welcome to Chapter 31, the answer she doesn't have the question too. Before today's episode, I want to say a huge thanks to the following new members of Club 86. Christy, Ray Avonlea, Jack, Amalia, Kit, Rick Johnson, Cameron Nisophore, the October boy, Daniel Romano, Frank De La Lerosa, and John. I love anchovies. Victor Spencer, Britt, Nico Larue, going animus, Alex the DM, Emma Troutman, Lucy Endy Skye, Kaston Dembsky, Jared Cross, fantastic first name, Jake from State Farm and Graveyard. Love you guys, love the names. Club 86 is a great way to support the show. Depending on the tier, you get everything from ad-free episodes to exclusive merch, multiple bonus series, including two new series that are now releasing the five-part, meanwhile, back at the station,

and episodes of Astralplane FM, which will release between every main episode, forever and all time, or until season three ends, or I get hit by a Buick Skylark when I'm crossing the road. Just visit patreon.com forward slash desert skies to join. That's patreon.com forward slash desert skies, or you can find the link in the show notes, and that's a fact. Numb, no. I hope you enjoy the show. This episode was made by a human, for humans, and coyotes, for the best listening experience. Headphones and human-made art are recommended. It's funny, I don't usually go looking for contestants.

I prefer to let them come to me, but I have a vested interest in your success. I know you're in there. Come out. Let's talk. What do we do? Going out there seems like a stupid idea. It could be dangerous. Cash? How could he know? Please come out. I'd hate to have to crush your cute little bar. So, he's an asshole. Guys, stay here. Let me talk to him.

No way. You're not going out there alone. Meck, I'm not in danger. I'm the one in a metal frame and the one whose soul can move about uninhibited by a body. There's nothing he can do to me. Oh, yeah. Just stay here. I'll be right back.

What'd he say? He says the bar has a hibernation den underneath. He wants everyone to move down there. Guys, go. Please. It'll be easier for me to talk with him if I'm not worried that he's going to crush you. All right.

I feel emasculated. Aw, that's so cute. Come on. Let's go to the den and you can arm wrestle some bears. And I'll bet you I win. I bet you will. Come on. Nanny, you're the best.

I know. Good luck, Cash. Thanks, Nani. Here it goes. How do you know so much about us? Sweetheart, I know everything about you. And a whole lot of other things, too. Rumor has it.

You know a bit about me. Yes. But not much. Well, I'm a little shy. Why are you so big? See, I just told you. I'm not interested in sharing at the moment. Why are you here?

I have something you need. You have something I need. Do you want to? Do you truly know how to traverse time and space? Seaw, Quattle. She told you I'm a liar. How she, above all people, can say that. So I'm gonna level with you.

Do I know how to traverse time and space? In a way. But to actually go from here to say, Paris, March 17, 1731? No, I don't know how to do that yet. But I've been so close to figuring it out for such a long time. You look disappointed. I had hoped. Oh, Lily.

You really want to give life another go, huh? Don't say my name so loud. How do you know my name? I'm the Grand Trivia Lizard, and I love a good fact. Your name is Lily, and that name's a fact. Just like Oliver and Stella and Calvin are facts. I know everything about you. Please keep it down.

Oh yeah, that's right. You like keeping secrets, don't you, Lily? Like, oh, I don't know. Like how you haven't told them that it's your fault, they're dead. I swear, if you... You know what? You shoot me with your little laser finger, girlfriend, I will crush your robot frame.

And I will eat your skylark. Your astral bodies still in the trunk. It'll be like the Titsyroll center of a Titsy Pop. What do you want from me? Two things, actually. First, I'd like for you to play my game. You like trivia? Of course you do.

Who doesn't? No? No. I need you to finish your little Astral Quest first. Why? So, you can win my trivia game! Nobody's ever won first place. you know. Her, Stella, she came close. She came so close. She tried so hard.

How do we win? It's easy. Collect a bunch of facts that I don't already know. And come tell them to me. The juicier the better. That's it. That's how we win? No. That's just the price of entry. Stella has given me more astral facts than anyone. I gave her one of my scales as a little prize. Hurt like hell.

She's really quite the explorer, isn't she? Of course, that makes sense, right? Lily, to win first prize, you only have to answer... The answer. That's it. Answer the answer. What does that even mean? Before you woke up on the physical place,

Before you even confronted Olenus, and saved your friends in that cavern, the prime mover found you, and gave you a message. That message was private. Nothing is private with me, Lily. Do you remember what he told you? Yes. Say it. I don't want to. Come on, we both know I already know.

Just say it. Seven, snake, rain, rabbit. 01979 MM-13 the gate opens. Nice try. Not 113. 115. You think you're the only one with a photographic memory? Wow.

I'm so impressed. You should be. What does it mean, Lily? You're smart. Surely you have theories. Even if I did, I wouldn't share them with you. Now see? That's foolish.

You need my help. If you want to get home, if you want to make things right. We're going to find the gate by ourselves, and we're going to go through it. End of story. The location of the gate is just one part of the puzzle. How would you know? Because I have the other piece. Without it, you can't go home.

Please, Lily. I've spent so long trying to uncover the solution to this backwards riddle. How? The Prime Mover only just told me a relatively short while ago. Never mind how. So, if I find the answer to this riddle... No, no, no, that's the thing. You've been thinking of it all wrong. You've been trying to answer a question.

But the code isn't the question. It's the answer to a question. What question? Exactly. That's the answer. That makes no sense. Wouldn't the question just be, what does the code mean? You would think, but no. What makes you say that?

Because we keep tabs on the prime mover when we can. Long ago, we tracked him to the 32nd sphere. He left a mysterious node in the library. It was the code, and underneath it simply said, an invitation. The answer she doesn't. doesn't have the question to. Lily, only you can ask the right question.

I can't begin to imagine why. It's just a fact you've been asking what does it mean, but that's not it. Seven snake, rain rabbit, oh, 19709M. 115, the gate opens. It's the answer to what question. Figure it out and I'll help you get home. This is so confusing. Oh, Lily, it's only confusing because we don't have all the facts!

Cold, hard facts are what makes sense of existence. There's a show on the physical plane called Pokemon. That's a fact, and it has a theme song, that's a fact too, num-n-n-n-n-n-n-n-m... And in the English version of the theme song, it says, Gotta catch them all. That's a fact? Now you get it, Lily. That's what we're doing together. All the facts. Gotta catch them all. Help me find this fact. That's all I ask. All you ask. You said you needed two things from me. Oh, right. Give me Calvin. What? Cal, Mac, give me Mac.

No, I know his name. Give him to you. You have to be joking. Oh, little lady, I assure you I'm not. I'm in need of that man. You're going to give him to me. Then I'm certainly not going to help you find the question you're looking for. See, I thought you would say that, you unreasonable robot. I said to myself, she's going to say that, and that's probably a fact. Now you said it to me, and you confirm that it is 100% a fact.

Why do you even want him? Your seekers, the becocks? They tried to convince him that helping you would. was what he needed. They made him feel terrible about himself, and now this? Oh, I'm sorry about that. It's a method that usually works, that's a fact. But the one that calls herself bad mother, she's a real asshole. That's a fact. Num, num, num, yep. So making him hate himself didn't work, but that doesn't matter. Just give him to me, huh? Why do you want him to join your fact finders? Seekers.

Fine, Seekers. Mack isn't stupid by any means, but he's also not the most detail-oriented person, except when it comes to the ratio of chicken to waffles and a burrito. Why not Tindy? Why not Nani? Not that I'd let you take them, I'm just confused. Okay. You know, Lily, you can always trust me.

The truth. That's a fact. I'll always give you the facts. Look, I'm going to level with you. I don't give two shits about the guy. You're right. He's not seeker material. That's a fact.

But I know some guys who really want me to get him. And I have a vested interest in keeping them happy. The six men. Kito saw them when you brought her to your cavern. Yep. They call themselves the six. That's a fact, num-n-n-n-num. Stupid name. They want Calvin, and you're gonna give him to me to give to them.

Don't worry, I'll give them. I'll give him back eventually. He's not going with you, Alan. Don't call me that. That's who you are. A curious gecko who loves learning. How is this what you became? You'd be smart to mute yourself, Lily.

You're going to make me mad. You have no right to be. You're the one making outrageous demands. Now I'm mad. Okay, okay. Cool your processors. Look, go back inside and talk to your friends. I'm not making demands. I'm offering a trade.

You give me the little guy. Help me find the question. And I'll give you the grand prize. Well, I'll share it with you. You can't traverse planes without it. Come on, let's help each other out. I'll show you the courtesy of talking to him. But don't expect him to go with you.

He's not about to leave his friends. Tell him, if he doesn't, I might just crush this bar and squish everyone inside. That would suck. And that's a fact. Num, num, num. You're psychotic. No. I'm ambitious. And negotiating from a place of strength. You know, like you. And your cash units did when Zochilic tried to destroy the station. We all have needs, Cash. And we do what we have to to meet them.

Now go. Talk with your friends. I'll give you a little time. Cash, are you okay? What happened? What did he say? Well, I'll give you the short version. Well, brother, did you not feel a great pounding upon the ground? What of it? I thought maybe you was doing some jumping jacks. I don't exercise. There's no point. Aye. True that, brother. I think we has a problem that might require our intervention. But first, I need to your keen eyes. It hints me outside.

Aye, brother. I come. Seas there, Osborne. There's on the horizon. That largely silhouette. Aye, brother. I see it. What you make of it, Osborne?

Oh, darn. I think it's a lizard. A lizard? Sure it's not a dragon. No, I've never seized a dragon. But I've seen lizard. I believe that's one. Of what kinds, brother?

Well, a bit like a collared forest gecko. But different. Same's but different, James, but different, brother. Well, looks like he's at the highway, close to the Bears Bar. Are you thinking we should intervene? I think we has to, brother. Aye, Dodd. What's happening here?

A bear, a robot. And now a giant gecko. Brother, I has no idea. Well, at least we has a new tail to tell the fishies. Aye, brother. The tale of the lizard tale. Hey, Ontario. Come on down to Bet MGM Casino

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Please play responsibly. If you have any questions or concerns about your gambling or someone close to you, please contact Connects Ontario at 1866-531-2-6-00 to speak to an advisor free of charge. BetMGM operates pursuant to an operating agreement with Eye Gaming Ontario. And that's it. That's what he said. Why in the hell does everyone want me so bad? I mean, I know I'm funny and good-looking and strong and a great singer, but, man, this is weird. I'm sorry, Mac.

But you know why. Don't you cash? I'm sorry, Mac. I don't, actually. I promise. That's true. I believe you, Cash. We're at a major.

disadvantage here. Maybe we can all go out. Reason with him. I don't think we should risk it. I told you, friend, I no longer have my powers. Yes, you do. A technicality. I don't have the ability to use my powers at this time. Satisfied, my dear. I hate this. I hate feeling powerless. Look, I've obviously met him before that scaled back in the caverns, my prize. Maybe he and I have some rapport that I can take advantage of. Please don't, Nani. He's cold-blooded. Repor isn't in his nature.

Then what do we do? Sneak out. We're not leaving you here, friend. Not alone. Cash? Yeah, Tendi. You don't need a body to move around. Right.

Have you ever hitched a ride in someone else? Yes, actually. Once on the physical plane. I use someone to help me find the sisters. By controlling them? I wouldn't say controlling. Influencing. It's an interesting story for another time.

Do you think you could influence the grand trivia lizard? I don't know. Maybe. It's worth a shot. Then I say go for it. Time the lizard brain. All right. Wish me luck.

More like, wish you yuck. Brains are gross. Maybe yours is. Maybe. I hate to leave this conversation. but I gotta go before he destroys this place. A group of flamingos is called a flamboyance. That's a fact.

Some cats are allergic to humans. That's a fact. Numb, num, num, sloths can hold their breath longer than dolphins can. That's a fact. Bananas are berries, strawberries are not. That's a fact. A cloud can weigh over a million pounds. That's a fact.

Numb, num, numb. Lily stood up for all of her in grade school, even though she was really small. That's a fact. Sharks existed before trees. That's a fact. And What's this?

Lily's soul has entered my brain? That's a shitty fact. I'm in trouble. What do you think you're doing? Alan, I think I know what happened to you. I'm not Alan. I'm the grand trivial lizard. You might call yourself that, but it's not really who you are.

You're Alan. That's a fact. I thought you loved facts. I do love facts. I do love facts. Kito misses you. That's a fact. She always loved to see you in that tree.

And you loved her. And that little island on the ocean sphere. That's a fact. Did love it. I did love Kito. And she's smart and strong. That's a fact. You spent too much time hanging out in the interstate.

didn't you? That's a fact. And it's not only warped your body. It's warped your mind. Yes. I think that's a fact, too. You don't have to do with the six. Whoever they are.

You don't have to do what they say. Yes, I do, Lily. That's a fact. Who are they, Alan? Who are the six? I don't want to tell you that. Are they the superiors? I wouldn't tell you.

Because they told you not to? Yes. Because they told me not to. Why do you listen to them? Because, Lily, they promised to help me get to Earth. They promised to help me to get there so I could get so many more facts. I'm big. That's a fact. Humans are small.

And that's a fact I could rule them. I could rule this plane. I could set up systems for eternal information delivery straight to my ears. I could master everything. I could master everything, and then I'd have all the facts. Wouldn't that be wonderful, Lily? Alan, as new things happen, facts are always being created. You'll never be satisfied.

But I can eat those facts for all my days. Did you know they have days on the physical plane? Of course you did. Literal days. Amazing. I want to experience that. I want to see sunshine. No, you can't.

Astral beings don't fare well on the physical plane. It's torture for them. Believe me. I know. Maybe. But maybe it'll be different for me. That's a possibility. Yep, yep.

Oh, and do you even know why you want all these facts? Because they're tasty. That's a fact. But why else? You need to get out of my head, Lily. What is it about facts that's making you do these things? I want facts because the unknown is terrifying. When I have all the facts, I can see.

Stop being afraid. You can't control what you don't understand, Lily. That's not how it works. What's happening? I'm being confronted. That's a fact. Num, num, num, num. I'm confronting you because... Can I fight or fly? Should I listen or attack?

Should I... What is going on? Get out of my head! I have to go. What's happening? I don't know. Stay here. I don't know about you guys, but I'm done just one. But I'm done just waiting around while cash faces whatever the hell this is all by herself. Same.

I am agreed. All right. Let's do this. We only wants to speak with you. You're the fishers. That's a fact. Your brothers. That's a fact.

Num, num, num, num, you're giants and that's a fact I can't tolerate. What in the world is you talking about? We's not a threat. We just has a vested interest in ensuring the safety of our fellow forestish citizens. I was small once, existing on an ocean sphere full of gigantic sea creatures. That was scary, so I grew. I'm bigger than all of them. I'm bigger than everything.

Understand this, I'm the only giant allowed here. That's a fact. Go back to your fishery. They're completely harmless, Alan. Stop calling me that! I'm not Alan. I'm the grand trivia list. And trivia, lizard.

And you will cower before me. Holy shit. He's so big. What are you guys doing here? I told you not to... There you are. I've been looking for you. I tried to get you to come along willingly.

And you know what? I'm willing to give you one more chance. I'm a gracious gecko. Call off your giants. And come with me. They're not my giants. And no, I'm not going with you. going with you. Are you out of your goddamn mind?

Maybe. A little. Is that a fact? Doesn't matter. Come with me. You'll be happy you did. Why is everyone obsessed with me? I'll get over yourself. You're not that special. You're just a man. A man is just made up of facts. And I know all of the facts that make you up. To me, you're nothing but stale. A stale fact. But your staleness is of no consequence. There's people. who are looking for you and I told them I could get you, so get in my hand. Dude, did you eat a bad cricket or something? You're tripping.

Oh, always with the sharp retorts. It's so boring. Well, I guess that's it. We'll do this the hard way. Not without going. Choose us. We don't like bullies around here, do we, brother? No, brother, we don't. Oh, Dodd. Orsbourne. You're not heroes. Never have been. Why start now? For all of forever, you've done the job a television could do. Entertainment.

Entertaining. What do you call them? You call them fishies. That's a fact. Num, num, num, num. You tell them the same old stories time and time again. You are simply the most replaceable creatures on the astral plane. Anyone could do your job.

We don't care. We takes prides in our work. Is that a fact? Well, listen, fellas, I'd love to see. Stick around and chat, but no time I gotta grab and go. You ain't grabbing nobodies, especially one of those. We counts among our friends. What's that stupid thing you guys say all the time?

A tale for a tail? A tale for a tail. Aye. A tale for a tail. Well, I'll tell you what. Here's a tail for ya! Oh my god, did you really just... Just who in the hell do you think you are? Oh, hello attendant.

attendant? Who in the hell do I think I am? What a strange question. We both know who I am, but you, you have no clue who you are. I'm the attendant. An attendant. That's a fact, num, num, num, but that's just a stupid title. It doesn't really mean anything. Titles aren't who we are, unless your title is Grand Trivia Lizard. Would you like to know who you are? Tendi. Would you like to know who you are? Tendee. Would you like to know just how remarkably screwed up your family... Wait, where's Mac? Don't worry about Mac. You were gonna tell me something? Say it. I don't care. It doesn't change...

Shit. I can't believe you picked me up without asking our friends are back there with that maniac. Mac, he's after you. Not them. It would take nothing for him to grab you and then run away. Where are you taking me anyways? We're going to the car. We'll grab it, swing. in and save the others. And then maybe we can outrun this thing. Maybe. What do you mean, maybe? It's a 1986 Buick Skylark. Hell yeah, we can. Are you kidding? What about the tires? Nani said the bears got the new ones and replaced them. This should be as easy as...

Cash. Yeah, Mac. He's gaining on us. Oh shit. Hold on, Mac. We're about to go through the interstate. Can we hide there? He knows that place better than anyone. We'd be in real danger if he caught us in there. We're gonna go through. God I missed you. You're so normal.

Get in the car, Mac. We can maneuver past him. Are you seriously trying to outrun me? Do you guys have any idea just how small you are compared to me? If you take him, we are not helping you find the question. If I take him, which I am, that's a fact I'm not giving him back to you unless you give me what I want. There's really no scenario here where you win and I lose. Cash. I don't know what to do, Mac. He has us.

Should I just go with him then? Come on, I'll take good care of him. You guys just find me when you're done doing all your exploring, and adventuring and whatnot. All right, you asshole, put your hand down and I'll climb up. Okay, then. Now hurry up and come here, little guy, or I crush that car with her body in it. Tear her apart. Go back and step on your friends and then I'll swallow you.

No, you're not gonna... Cash, look at me. I'm okay. Okay? If I really was a bad man, then maybe I gotta do stuff like this to make up for it. Seriously. Mack, I'm not okay with this. I don't think there's another way. We're beat. Just for now, though.

It's gonna be okay, Cash. Are we done now? Yeah. We're done. Do what you're gonna do. That's it. Hop on. Up we go. Comfortable? What in the hell do you care? I don't. That's why I'm going to swallow you.

I can't have you trying to escape. You're safer in my stomach. No. I wonder how crunchy you are. Wait, wait. Oh, dude. You realize what this means. I'm screwed. That's a fact. Thank you for listening to Chapter 31. This episode was written, produced, and performed by me, Jared Carter.

The show is executive produced by Michael Freiburg. And that's a fact. No, no, no. A special thank you to early listeners, Jared Heinz and Kelly Cusack for their help with continuity and quality checks. Desert Skies will return with Chapter 32, a... cacophony of creative thought. Until then, safe travels. The Fable and Falling Network, where fiction producers flourish. Welcome to Beyond the Dark. Sub-level 19 was nothing like the other floors at Machineco. There were no alabaster work benches, no spotless white carpets. Here it was

dank, dark noise, humming, throbbing sound like a sickly heart. hiding behind the whir of a great machine. A large metal cage loomed out of the darkness, backlit by an iridescent blue monitor, on which a cursor blinked idly. A metal panel slid out of an aperture in the cage near the monitor, and suddenly the cursor came to life. It read,

Insert hand here. Beyond the dark, a sci-fi end. by Mark R. Healy, creator of the strata. Find it at Beyond the Dark Podcast.com or anywhere you listen to podcasts.