Episode 10: The Way Home, Part One

Episode 10 Pre-Release Moodboard

## Summary

The Breachers await the coming of night on Gaia in the most unlikely of sanctuaries. Cassius watches over the team and gives updates for VINCULA. What little is known of the Breach is explained, and the team tries to rest until the inevitable arrival of their pursuers.

## Content Warnings

Content Warnings in this episode are:

Mentions of: spatial anomalies, uncanny valley, unreality, death, darkness, species extinction, tranced state, drug-induced state, recreational drugs, lucid dreaming, slight scopophobia, slight emetophobia, insects, egg-laying

As well as: Explicit language, Loud noises, Sounds of struggle and pain, Cryptids, Moths, Caves, Wolves/Dogs, Insect noises

## Plot

Silas’s Translation Date: April 30th, 2021

The episode opens with a standalone audio clip from Cassius, who is frantically asking about the location of something, alluding that it will lead to "the way home."

The actual episode itself begins with a travel log report from Cassius explaining their discovery of another Breach-like structure found during Episode 9. Silas (much to Cassius' annoyance) interjects to mention a note about a water sigil and linkstone. Cassius continues, explaining that the sigil in the second Breach is not the same as the first one. They also decide to call the first one Breach One, with this new one in the cave being Breach Two. Cassius continues the report to VINCULA by detailing the other activities from the prior episode. The report concludes with Cassius explaining that the entire team is stuck hiding inside of Breach Two, accompanied by some moths (who are simply going about their own moth business, paying no mind to the team). With an injured Linguist, limited supplies, and nowhere to go, Cassius ends the travel log report.

Cassius speaks with Greg, who has been the lookout thus far while they are stuck in the cave. Greg explains that VINCULA's extraction protocol requires a full Gaian day to pass before sending in a rescue team, so they have to wait longer if they are hoping for a rescue. The two also briefly discuss the oddity of only Silas and Alyx being affected by the moths. Cassius wishes Greg a quiet watch, then moves on to check on Elizabeth, who is sketching the moths above them. Both Alyx and Silas are being looked over by Jeremiah, both of them still unconscious.

Cassius walks away from the rest of the group, and then begins to speak to themselves, berating themself for a number of things, particularly getting the team stuck in the cave, to begin with. Cassius also admits that they consider the Breachers to be close to them, implying that Cassius cares about them perhaps more than they originally intended. Cassius mentions that they listened to Silas's "last words" recording from Episode 9 and admits that they are scared while everyone else is being brave. Deciding to follow Silas's steps, Cassius records a few "last words" of their own.

> *Excerpt: "I’m Cassius. And I’m here with Greg Washburn, Alyx Yard, Lizzy Bellanger, Jeremiah Woods, Fred Kitsman, Elora Mason, and… Silas Caldwell. We lived, we explored, we dared to go where few others would. I was happy to be with every one of ‘em."*
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Silas approaches and scares the bejeesus out of Cassius in the process when he calls out Cassius's name. Cassius chastises Silas for even being up and moving around while injured, but Silas admits that he cannot sleep and is still fearful, a reminder of his phobia regarding caves. Cassius offhandedly mentions that the Breach hum, as Jeremiah mentioned, is soothing, and admittedly helpful for the tinnitus Cassius got from the large bird creature. The pair sit together and talk, Cassius admitting to listening to Silas's "last words" recording but stopping when Silas had said to in the recording. In the chat, Cassius divulges that they have never been listened to before, so last words feel a bit pointless. Silas offers some genuine sympathy and gives Cassius the last of the coffee he's been carrying along since Jeremiah won't let him drink it. Cassius explains that they are still getting used to Silas's mannerisms, but is getting used to them nonetheless. The two also discuss the encounter with the moth and its nest, as well as the fact that the moth simply deposited Specimen One into the cave with the second Breach and did not seem to mind the Breachers coming to investigate. They discuss the weird effects of the moth on Silas, something akin to hallucinogenics, to which Cassius teases Silas about.

Cassius then begins to discuss the conundrum and spatial paradox that is the Breach itself. The process of walking into and through the Breach doesn't make sense according to any known reasoning. There is, however, an "observation component" to the Breach. It functions when it is being observed, and ceases to function when it is not. Electronics have failed to work in capturing the Breach working when no humans are present to observe it. Cassius then mentions a "Breach Monster," mostly joking to tease Silas. They then explain that through some experimentation with the Breach, using remote cameras and another individual to try to test out some ideas about the spatial issues. The result was the camera and its tripod disappearing, a cleanly cut electrical cord to the camera being the only thing left of where it ought to be connected.

Greg calls out to alert the team, and Cassius and Silas leave Breach Two's tunnel to rejoin the rest of the group. Silas begins an Expedition Report as the nocturnal predators begin to approach the mountainside. Cassius uses binoculars to take a better look at them, describing them as wolves with compound eyes like that of a dragonfly on their heads, though unlike an insect they are fleshy. There is a fuzz atop their heads that allows them to make a buzzing sound. When Lizzy and Cassius speak as they observe the creatures, the creatures' ears move to listen better for them. Cassius assumes the buzzing might be a form of echolocation, given their nocturnal predator status. They note that the howling is only coming from one beast at a time, and the two realize it is a call and response, likely for reinforcements.

## Cast and Crew

Cast:

* Ty Von (Silas Caldwell)
* Beth Sage Phung (Cassius Thatcher)
* Cody Burke (Greg Washburn)
* Elgin Smith (Jeremiah Woods)
* Morgie Bee (Elizabeth Bellanger)
* Jules Christine (Alyx Yard)
* Rowan Odom (Elora)
* Gage Odom (Fred)

Crew:

* Ty Von
* Rowan Odom
* Gage Odom